Auman EST, produced by Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive Co., Ltd. (BFDA), a 50: 50 joint venture between Daimler AG and Foton Motor, has won the Chinese Truck of the Year 2017 award. A jury comprising of transport operators, engineers, and Commercial Vehicle Magazine (China) journalists selected the truck for the title. The selection criteria calls for the truck to be developed and assembled in China by either a domestic manufactuer or a joint-venture company. The truck has to be launched in the previous 12 months, and should have made the greatest contribution to road transport efficiency. The selection was supported by the International Truck of the Year, which is chaired by senior trucking journalist from Italy, Gianenrico Griffini, and made up of 32 commercial vehicle editors and senior journalists representing 32 major trucking magazines in Europe, China, South Africa, India, Japan, Australia, Brazil and Iran. Representating a big leap, the Auman EST is fitted with a spacious cabin that looks premium with the use of high quality materials. Powered by a 12-litre EuroV Mercedes-Benz OM 457 engine or a Foton-Cummins engine, and an automated ZF Traxon transmission, the Auman EST comes with a long list of safety and security equipment including ABS, ASR, ESP, emergency brake assist, lane departure warning system, tyre pressure monitoring, load sensors and theft protection. The title award was presented on the eve of the third Guangzhou International Commercial Vehicle Exhibition on November 17, 2016. Upon winning the title, Zhou Liang, President and CEO of BFDA, expressed, “The Auman EST embodies Daimler Trucks’ advanced technologies and our strong commitment to providing trucks adapted to the specific requirements of Chinese customers.” “This award highlights the success of our German-Sino cooperation between Daimler and Foton,” he added. Yu, the chairwoman of the Chinese Truck of the Year, and Gianenrico Griffini, commented that BDFA, in the form of Auman EST, has introduced an advanced truck that represents the shape of things to come in the Chinese market.
