Beiqi Foton to build second truck plant

Truck-maker Beiqi Foton Motor intends to invest 1.3 billion yuan (US$191 million) to build its second heavy-truck facility in the Huairou District of Beijing (China), reports SinoCast Transportation Beat. The new facility is aimed at increasing the Foton brand’s heavy-truck manufacturing capacity to more than 100,000 units per annum (upa), with its upcoming fourth-generation Auman trucks set to be built at the plant. As part of its other expansion plans, Beiqi Foton is already investing 2.96 billion yuan (US$433.45 million) in setting up a new multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) manufacturing facility in China and has recently opened an alternative-fuel vehicle research and development (R&D) facility in Beijing. (November 4, 2009)