A new player is set to hit the Australian bus and coach market, with Asiastar debuting its range of vans, cab chassis and buses around the country.
Founded in 1949, Asiastar has a global history as a manufacturer, with its latest announcement set to make it the first all-electric manufacturer in Australia to offer a complete electric vehicle light commercial range.
With Asiastar saying it’ll also have the largest battery size in the Australian electric van segment, it also has an eAxle that is set to redefine local technology.
As a subsidiary of the Weichai Group, Asiastar is ranked 18th in China’s top 100 multinational companies with a global workforce of 100,000 and an annual revenue of $65 billion.
Initial stock for the range has now landed in Australia and will be expected to arrive in dealerships by the end of Q1.
Locally, the products will be imported by Foton Mobility Distribution and fully supported by a nationwide network of dealers and service partners.
“It’s an exciting time to be bringing the Asiastar product to Australia, with the brand providing a range that is truly in demand by the local market,” Foton Mobility Distribution light duty vehicles general manager Bill Gillespie says.
“In Australia, commercial vehicle buyers are now looking to all-electric solutions to meet their environmental mandate and through Asiastar, we have a comprehensive range that are proven performers, which simply make financial sense.
“The electric van segment is truly underserviced locally, and with the innovations we are bringing to the market with our leading battery size, range and eAxle configuration, we know that this will be a hit.”
Gillespie says the cab chassis starts at under $90,000 excluding GST, bringing down one of the main barriers to converting to electric vehicles.
“Asiastar is making big inroads in their various markets around the world, and we are working closely with the factory and our local upfitters to be able to provide off-the-shelf and tailored solutions that will cater to any application,” Gillespie says.
The Asiastar products available from launch will be a 70kWh and 105.6hWh van and cab chassis, while the bus variant will be available with the larger 105.6kWh battery, fitted with 12 seats or no seats, for configurations that require bespoke fit-outs.
The 105.6kWh battery is supplied by global leading manufacturer CATL, with the system running to 500 volts, while under the bonnet, a three-in-one MCU, PCU and DCDC unit control power supply to the vehicle.
Meanwhile, the eAxle motor can provide a peak torque of 3,890Nm, and a peak power rating of 140kW, with its compact packaging allowing space for the larger battery packs.
With an estimated driving range of 300km for the larger battery, Asiastar says the platform is perfectly suited to the rigours of stop-start city traffic, while the standard suite of safety features includes ABS braking, autonomous electric braking, electronic stability control, lane departure warning and a reversing camera on the van and bus.
The 12-seat bus configuration features a manual folding step and a fixed handrail, with the passenger seats finished in either cloth or vinyl, resulting in a 1,250kg payload.
The Asiastar range is backed by a five-year or 200,000km warranty, with the main traction batteries enjoying an eight-year or 300,000km warranty, while 24/7 roadside and phone support will be provided by NTI Truck Assist.