DFAC outlines validation for incoming Captain

INCOMING Chinese commercial vehicle brand DFAC has detailed an 800,000km durability and engineering program behind its recently launched Captain 45 light-duty truck.

Forming part of KRW Motor Group, which also distributes Foton’s electric trucks in Australia, DFAC Australia says the validation program spanned 18 months of pre-production trials in both China and Australia.

The company outlined lab, proving ground, and open-road testing across a claimed 800,000km, but did not specify how much of the testing was undertaken on local roads, and has not yet responded to GoAuto’s request for clarification.

In addition to cumulative testing kilometres, validation for the budget-friendly Captain model included 14,000 individual component-level evaluations.

Proving ground testing took place across Dongfeng Automobile Company’s 73.3-hectare research and development facility in Xiangyang, Hubei Province, alongside hot-weather and high-altitude evaluation in China’s Turpan Basin, known as the 'Flaming Mountains'.

DFAC Australia general manager Bill Gillespie says the test program ensures the light-duty entrant is capable of withstanding harsh Australian weather conditions, road surfaces, and thermal loads. 

“The work that has gone into bringing the first DFAC models to the Australian market has been extensive to say the least,” Mr Gillespie said. 

“Australian conditions, including climate, road type and scale, requires vehicles that are of an extremely high standard and DFAC has enthusiastically taken on the challenge.

“The result is a brand that is not only up to the job, but in many respects will exceed the expectation of customers.” 

Launched locally from $59,990 drive-away in 'WorkReady' tray specification, the Captain 45 targets owner-operators, tradies, and civil fleets stepping up from dual-cab utes, or out of more expensive Japanese light-duty models.

The Captain 45 is powered by a Cummins 2.5-litre Euro 6-compliant four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine producing 121kW/400Nm, running through a six-speed Eaton FAST automated manual transmission (AMT) and out to Dana axles.

It will be available as standard with a car-licence suitable 4500kg GVM, but can also be had in 6000kg GVM guise which will require a light-duty truck licence, for operators wanting additional payload.

The WorkReady package includes a locally-developed 4.5m x 2.0m aluminium tray from MW Alloy Trays, with a two-tonne load capacity and the model also has a 3.5-tonne braked towing rating.

Standard safety equipment includes driver and passenger airbags, as well as advanced features like autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and pedestrian and cyclist detection. 

The Captain range comes with a seven-year/250,000km warranty, supported by a local network currently sitting at 17 service sites, alongside a locally warehoused inventory of spare parts and consumables.