DFAC Trucks, distributed in Australia by the KRW Motor Group, has confirmed seven foundation dealers as the Chinese heavy vehicle brand begins its formal market entry.
The seven sites span Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia, and Queensland, with locations in Ballarat, Geelong, Melbourne City, Newcastle, Bunbury, Adelaide, and Brisbane. A further 18 locations are also planned to operate as DFAC customer service centres nationally.
The foundation dealers are now offering the DFAC Captain 45 range for sale, available in both cab chassis and alloy tray variants. The alloy tray model is sold under the WorkReady brand name, with pricing starting from $59,995 driveaway.
Captain 45 specifications
The Captain 45 is a 4.5-tonne gross vehicle mass (GVM) light truck that can be driven on a standard car licence, with the option to extend to a 6-tonne GVM when operated under a light rigid (LR) licence.
The model is powered by a Euro 6 Cummins 2.5-litre engine and features Dana axles and an Eaton FAST automated manual transmission (AMT). A full safety suite is included as standard, incorporating cyclist and pedestrian detection.
Network growth and market ambitions
KRW Motor Group chief executive and founder Neil Wang says the foundation dealers were selected with customer outcomes as the primary consideration.
“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,” Wang says.
“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.”
Wang says the seven-dealer foundation network is intended to support the brand through its introduction phase, with expansion to follow as market momentum builds.
“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,” he says.
Wang pointed to the light duty truck segment as a key opportunity for the brand in Australia.
“The Australian truck market is buoyant and the need for quality light duty trucks for a wide range of industries continues to grow,” he says. “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.”
DFAC Trucks is a subsidiary of Dongfeng Motor Company, which the company says has manufactured more than 63 million units since 1969. DFAC is described as the second largest truck manufacturer in China, with global sales of more than four million commercial vehicles since 2000.
The brand was first introduced to the Australian market at the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show, following which KRW Motor Group says it fielded interest from a wide range of prospective dealers across the country.
Join the conversation