CHINA’S second-biggest truck maker has announced its dealer network for its entry in Australia, with the seven dealers termed “foundation” dealerships to pre-empt a bigger network.

DFAC trucks are made by the Dongfeng Motor Company which claims it has manufactured more than 63 million units since 1969 and is the second-biggest truck manufacturer in China with global sales of more than four million since 2000.

DFAC Australia, which will operate under the distribution of KRW Motor Group, will have seven sites but plans an additional 18 national outlets as customer service centres.

The initial seven dealers are in Geelong, Ballarat, Geelong, Melbourne, Newcastle, Brisbane, Adelaide and Bunbury.

KRW Motor Group chief executive and founder Neil Wang said in a statement that the dealer group had a lot of truck expertise.

“We are very excited to not just bring the DFAC brand to Australia, but also have a group of established and leading dealers to support the product to customers,” he said.

“Like the KRW Motor Group, these dealers have been chosen with the customer being front of mind. This collaboration will set the DFAC brand on a positive path from the outset of its introduction.

“From the dealer principals through to the sales and aftersales teams, we are ensuring the best customer support at all levels with no stone unturned in what customers expect when they choose a DFAC Truck.”

KRW Motor Group chief executive and founder, Neil Wang

Mr Wang said that since first announcing the DFAC brand at the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show, the KRW Group has had interest from many dealers. 

“The initial seven foundation dealers will serve the DFAC brand and its customers through the introduction phase of the brand, but we are keen to grow the network as momentum builds and customers have an opportunity to see the Captain 45 and upcoming models in operation,” Mr Wang said.

“The Australian truck market is buoyant and the need for quality light duty trucks for a wide range of industries continues to grow.

“Businesses from the owner-operator through to large scale fleets understand the need for the right truck for their needs. We are confident that DFAC can be among the brands and models they should consider.

“What customers will quickly discover is that DFAC is the smart truck to own across the total vehicle experience.”

The first DFAC to hit the market is the Captain 45 which will be available as a cab-chassis and tray-body range.

The brand will sell the tray-body version under the WorkReady name and with prices starting at $59,995 including on-road costs.GoAutoNews reported last month that the launch model included a locally-assembled aluminium tray supplied by MW Alloy Trays. It was also fitted with ladder racks, a rear cabin protection screen, wash station, and drop-down sides, and has a payload capacity of 2000kg and a 3500kg braked towing capacity.

Mr Wang said demand for light-duty trucks was increasing as businesses outgrew traditional utes.

“Light-duty 4500kg trucks are being seen more and more on worksites as tradespeople look to maximise their business operations after growing out of their dual-cab ute,” he said.

“After speaking to a wide range of operators, this tray model has been developed, designed, and constructed locally.”

The 4.5-tonne GVM Captain 45 can be driven on a standard car licence with a 6-tonne GVM version available for drivers with a light-rigid licence.

The Captain 45 has a 121kW/400Nm Euro-6 Cummins 2.5-litre engine, Dana axles, an Eaton AMT six-speed transmission and a comprehensive safety inventory that includes AEB with standard cyclist and pedestrian detection.

DFAC backs the truck with a seven-year/250,000km warranty, 24-hour NTI roadside assistance, and a national support network comprising seven foundation dealerships and 18 customer service centres.