Western Star Trucks Australia (WSTA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Transpacific Industries Group Ltd, has terminated its importation and distribution agreement with Beiqi Foton Motor Co Ltd, effective October 31, 2012.
For the past two years, WSTA has imported the Foton Aumark brand of light-duty truck that was intended to complement Transpacific’s line-up of respected heavy and medium-duty trucks.
The company says it engaged global due diligence to find a product that suited Australian conditions and provided a quality product at a competitive price. While the Foton Aumark satisfied these conditions initially, and a contract for import and distribution with Beiqi Foton Motor Co Ltd. was established, the contract outlined several key product engineering and aftermarket support milestones that were to be met by Foton. After protracted negotiations on the part of WSTA with Foton, it became apparent that these milestones would not be achieved by Foton on a schedule that was acceptable by WSTA.
Western Star and its extensive dealer network are synonymous with quality products and aftermarket support. This commitment to the Australian marketplace will ensure that those customers who have purchased the Foton Aumark product to date will receive complete aftermarket support, and WSTA says it is working with the new Foton Aumark importer to ensure a smooth transition.