Quest Motors will start assembling several Chinese vehicle models during the course of the year to increase capacity at its Mutare assembling plant, company director Tarik Adam has said.
Quest already assembles and holds franchises for various Chinese models, including Chery Tiggo, JMC and Foton. It also holds the franchise for BMW and some Mitsubishi vehicles.
It has recently started assembling the Chinese-built, Cummins-powered Tunland double cabs and will later this year start to make single cabs at the plant.
He did not give figures on the uptake of the new models.
Adam said that Quest expects to add other Cherry and Foton models.
“The jigs for the (Foton Tunland) single cab are currently being manufactured and the vehicle kits for this model will start arriving in a couple of months. The Foton View Mini Bus and Ambulance will also be assembled at the plant as soon as we finish with manufacturing of the jigs for the single cab,” said Adam.
The three Foton models use a Cummins 2.8 litre engine and have a 3 year or 100 000 kilometre warranty while the rest of the vehicles have a two year warranty.
Adam said Quest will also start assembling the Foton Daimler 3.5 ton up to 30 ton and tippers during the course of the year in addition to the 8 ton dropside body and 3.5 ton trucks currently being assembled.
The plant will further launch Foton Bus (32 seater) and Foton Tractors.
“Later in the year, we will be assembling the 32 seater Foton Bus which will be the first such model to be assembled in Zimbabwe,” said Adam.
“We are launching the assembly of Foton Tractors and we will soon be assembling the first models of 80 and 90 horse power,” he said.
The company was currently finalising the engineering modalities to start assembling the Cherry QQ, which will have a 0.8 litre engine capacity at a market price of $9 500, including a two year warranty of 60 000 kilometres.
This will be followed by the launch of a new Tiggo model and Z-Tong Buses.
“We are working as fast as possible to introduce new models and we will have various launches for different models throughout the year. We are confident that government support and the introduction of new models with affordable pricing can make Quest vibrant again,” said Adam.-The Source
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