Chinese trucks cut motorhome prices
Kiwi manufacturer shaves price of luxury motorhome by using cheaper Chinese truck chassis instead of Japanese optionsA New Zealand motorhome manufacturer has become the first to base a motorhome on a Chinese-built JAC light duty truck chassis with a conversion that delivers a fully built motorhome for around 20 per cent less than equivalent vehicles based on rival Japanese chassis.
Christchurch-based UCC Motorhomes, first looked at using the cheaper JAC trucks following a rise of more than 50 per cent over the past four years in the base price of the Mitsubishi Fuso chassis the company had been using for its Benmore and Coleridge designs.
Adapting the Chinese truck to the company's existing designs was a breeze, as the JAK HFC1048K truck with its 5999kg GVM has similar cab dimensions to the Fuso, while the chassis and wheelbase measure up within a couple of millimetres.
In addition, the body moulds UCC uses all fit the JAC with virtually no modification required.
The lower entry cost for the JAC chassis means UCC has been able to offer customers a new motorhome for around the same price it was selling them at in 2008.
"It means we can offer our Benmore model for a base price that is lower than many five or six year old used motorhomes," said UCC Motorhomes' managing director Rob Floris.
"It not only makes the motorhome more cost effective for private buyers but also makes it far more competitive for rental companies."
The UCC Benmore based on the JAC chassis features a lightweight GRP body and is powered by a Euro 5 emissions compliant 2.8-litre Cummins diesel engine, outputting 110kW/360Nm, mated to a five-speed ZF manual transmission.
Australian manufacturers will also have the opportunity to adopt the JAC chassis for motorhome use with the light duty range of Chinese trucks due to be launched in Australia next month. Australian models will have an automatic variant available as an option.
JAC or Jianghuai Automobile Co. Ltd, was founded in 1964 and manufactures a range of light, medium and heavy duty trucks as well as passenger vehicles and buses.
Recording more than 400,000 total sales in 2011, JAC is one of China's biggest exporters of light-duty trucks, shipping its vehicles to more than 100 countries throughout Europe, Asia, the Americas and the Middle East.
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