The Foton Auman is the heavy truck range of the Chinese manufacturer Foton Motor. The model name was introduced on the Chinese market on 28 August 2002, and since 2012 the trucks have been built by Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive, a joint venture with Daimler AG.
Foton Auman at a glance
| Maker | Beiqi Foton Motor, Beijing |
|---|---|
| Production | since 2002 |
| Class | heavy-duty truck |
| Name introduced | 28 August 2002 |
| Engines | Cummins; OM 457 12-litre six from 2012 |
| Emissions | Euro IV and V with the OM 457 |
| Joint venture | Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive (BFDA), 2012 |
| Premium model | Auman EST, presented September 2016 |
| Public attention | transport of the Shenzhou 6 spacecraft, October 2005 |
| Related ranges | Aumark and Ollin light trucks |
There is no English Wikipedia article on the Auman; this page is based mainly on the German article, with the model names taken from the English article on Foton Motor.
History of the Foton Auman
Origins
Beiqi Foton Motor was founded in 1996 and carried out its first tests with its own heavy trucks until 2001. The model name Auman was introduced on the Chinese market on 28 August 2002, and the Auman became the company’s heavy-duty line, while lighter trucks of 3.5 and 4.5 tonnes were sold as the Aumark and Ollin series. Early Auman types, among them the Jones, Lion, Kunlun Mountains and Shenzhou of 2003, were built under licence from Mercedes-Benz trucks, and the H4 followed in 2011.
Spacecraft transports
In October 2005 the Auman gained national attention when trucks of the range carried the Shenzhou 6 spacecraft overland. Vehicles of the same brand were also used for the later transports up to Shenzhou 10.
The Daimler joint venture
On 18 February 2012 the contract for a joint venture between Foton and Daimler AG was signed, creating Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive (BFDA), which took over Foton’s medium- and heavy-duty truck business. From then on Auman trucks could be ordered, besides Cummins engines, with the 12-litre six-cylinder OM 457 produced at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Mannheim and meeting Euro IV and V; since 2017 the engine has been built locally by BFDA under licence. In September 2016 Foton presented the Auman EST (Energy Super Truck), a premium model with equipment that is not usually standard in China, such as air suspension for the rear axle, a telematics system and ASR.
Design and features
- Heavy truck range: the Auman is Foton’s heavy-duty line, with light trucks sold as Aumark and Ollin.
- Daimler technology: from 2012 the 12-litre OM 457 six from Mannheim, to Euro IV and V, built locally since 2017.
- Auman EST: the 2016 premium model with rear air suspension, telematics and ASR.
- Public profile: Auman trucks carried the Shenzhou spacecraft overland from 2005.
Foton Auman versions
- Auman Jones (since 2003): early type built under Mercedes-Benz licence.
- Auman Lion (since 2003): another licensed early type.
- Auman Kunlun Mountains (since 2003): early licensed type.
- Auman Shenzhou (since 2003): early licensed type.
- Auman H4 (since 2011): later heavy truck.
- Auman EST (since 2016): premium Energy Super Truck.
Foton’s lighter trucks are the Ollin range, and the company’s van line began with the Foton Alpha. More vehicles are in the Foton collection.
Video: FOTON Video for performance of Auman TL
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Foton Auman, German Wikipedia: history, engines, EST, spacecraft
- Foton Motor, English Wikipedia: company, model names, joint venture
