Despite hosting some Australian journalists on a high-profile trip to China, specialist truck and bus importer WMC Group has pulled the plug on plans to import the Foton range of utes ‘Downunder’.
WMC CEO Jason Pecotic cited the unwillingness of Foton’s Chinese management to agree with his company’s suggested levels of pricing for the new P201 ute range.
The backflip represents a sudden turnaround for WMC Group who earlier this year hosted selected Australian media to visit China and this resulted in front page headline stories as some websites and newspaper motoring pages almost fought each other in the rush to be first with the news about Foton utes.
“We have withdrawn from the Distribution Agreement for a number of reasons, most significantly uncompetitive pricing particularly on the back of an unstable US dollar and as a result of Japanese manufacturers lowering prices,” Mr. Pecotic said.
WMC Group is the Australia and New Zealand importer of Higer Bus and JAC Trucks. The company will also introduce Joylong vans to Australia with the first example due in November ahead of a 2012 launch.
Intriguingly WMC Group says it will shortly announce Australian distribution rights for another - as yet un-named Chinese-based automotive brand.
