Foton relaunches single-cab Tunland

FOTON’S single-cab Tunland workhorse ute has been reintroduced to Australia after importer Ateco Automotive managed to renegotiate more competitive pricing from the Chinese maker.

The entry-level cab-chassis model was deleted from the line-up after Ateco took over from original importer FAA Automotive Australia in June, with the new distributor telling Foton the $24,990 driveaway starting price was uncompetitive in this market.

This time around, the price for the 4x2 version of the diesel-powered, aluminium tray ute has been cut $3000, to $21,990 driveaway, while the 4x4 version goes for $24,990 driveaway.

The dual-cab Tunland – which has been Foton’s sole ute offering for the past few months – remains at $26,990 driveaway for the 4x2 and $29,990 for the 4x4..

The revised Tunland single-cab pricing is still more expensive than some diesel rivals, such as the $19,990 Mahindra Genio Tray and $20,990 Tata Xenon, but Ateco says the standard equipment of the Tunland – including the bigger 2.8-litre Cummins diesel engine – more than makes up the difference.

Ateco’s Asian brands spokesman Daniel Cotterill said that Ateco had said it would not sell the single-cab Tunland in Australia until it could negotiate competitive pricing.

He said this has now happened, with the results being passed on to customers.

Mr Cotterill said the new model would add incremental sales, with Ateco following its usual strategy of building volume steadily and sustainably.

So far this year, just 209 Chinese-built Tunlands have been sold in Australia – a drop in a bucket in Australia’s competitive light truck market that has accumulated more than 130,000 sales year to date.

In 4x2 form, the single-cab Tunland’s Cummins diesel makes 96kW of power and 280Nm of torque. Fuel consumption is a claimed 8.0L/100km.

The 4x4 version steps up to 120kW and 360Nm, with a combined fuel reading of 8.3L/100km.

Among the other off-the-shelf western technologies in the Tunland are Bosch electronics, ABS and EBD, and a Dana differential.

Standard equipment includes air-conditioning, power windows, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming and leather trimmed steering wheel.

The Tunland single-cab has a one tonne payload and a two and a half tonne braked towing capacity along with a rugged aluminium tray.

The warranty is three-years and 100,000km, with free roadside assistance thrown in.

Foton Tunland Single-Cab pricing*

4x2	$21,990
4x4	$24,990

*Driveaway