A new light-duty truck brand has entered the Australian market, with DFAC Trucks commencing local sales of its Captain 45 through Australian distributor KRW Motor Group.
The Captain 45 launches into the competitive 4.5-tonne GVM segment, targeting applications ranging from owner-operators and trades through to fleet, logistics, government, council and rental operations.
An alloy tray model is being offered at an introductory price of $59,990 driveaway, backed by a seven-year or 250,000km warranty.
Importantly for fleets looking to move drivers out of utes or vans without immediately requiring a truck licence, the Captain 45 can be driven on a standard car licence at its 4.5-tonne GVM. It can also be uprated to six tonnes for operation by drivers holding an LR licence.
The truck has a 3300mm wheelbase and a 3.5-tonne towing capacity.
Cummins power and AMT transmission
Power comes from a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel Cummins engine producing 121kW and 400Nm of torque.
DFAC has also partnered with DANA for axles and drivetrain components, while a six-speed AMT transmission is supplied by FAST.
KRW Motor Group CEO and Founder Neil Wang said work had been undertaken to adapt the vehicle for Australian operating conditions.
“KRW has been working closely with DFAC to ensure the truck is right for the Australia market both from a technical standpoint, but also from a sales and aftersales perspective,” Wang said.
“DFAC engineers from China along with our own local technical experts have been testing and evaluating pre-production models in the Australian environment, including roads and climatic conditions, both from a performance perspective as well as a focus on the operator in terms of safety and comfort.”
Safety features aimed at fleet buyers
The Captain 45 meets Australian Design Rule requirements and includes a range of active safety systems as standard.
These include lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, driver and passenger airbags, a reversing camera and parking sensors.
The cab also meets ECE-R29 cabin strength certification requirements.
Adaptive cruise control is standard, while the cabin includes smartphone mirroring, a multifunction steering wheel, an LCD instrument display and a 13-inch infotainment screen.
DFAC says attention has also been paid to driver accommodation, with a driver’s seat rated to 140kg and longer seat runners designed to provide more adjustment for Australian drivers.
“It is not an off-the-shelf truck, it has been specified for the Australian market with DFAC bringing together its own team and key OEM partners to ensure design and ingenuity,” Wang said.
Aftersales support will be important
For fleet buyers, DFAC’s ability to establish parts, servicing and roadside support will be an important consideration alongside the Captain 45’s purchase price, payload capability and specification.
KRW Motor Group says it is developing a dealer network for the brand, supported by 24-hour roadside assistance, locally focused accessories and finance options.
“We have, and will continue to build, a trusted dealer network, 24-hour roadside assistance, a range of accessories that are aimed at the local market and a customer-focussed finance offer that is sure to be an attraction,” Wang said.
DFAC was first announced for Australia at the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show.
The brand forms part of Dongfeng Motor Company and is being distributed locally by Australian-owned KRW Motor Group, which specialises in light and medium-duty trucks and buses.
With established Japanese and European manufacturers holding strong positions in Australia’s light-duty truck market, DFAC now faces the task of demonstrating that its vehicle specification can be matched by the parts availability, servicing capacity and whole-of-life support expected by fleet operators.
