HOWO vs. SHACMAN vs. FAW: Which is Best for African Terrains?

With the construction and development in Africa, there is a huge demand for trucks for land construction, such as building bridges and roads. HOWO, SHACMAN, and FAW are the three Chinese truck brands with the largest export volume. In the African market, where the actual road conditions are complex and maintenance conditions are limited, the choice of brand depends on your specific use (mining vs. highway), target country (West Africa vs. East Africa), and budget.

The following is an objective comparative analysis based on five aspects and sales figures:

1. Market share and convenience of accessories (core indicators)

HOWO: The undisputed “King of Africa”. It is the earliest Chinese truck brand to enter Africa, with an extremely high market share (especially in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, etc.). This means that in any remote town in Africa, you can almost always find technicians and spare parts for HOWO.
SHACMAN: Followed closely, it has performed strongly in markets such as Algeria and Kenya. The supply of spare parts is also very mature, but its popularity is slightly lower than that of HOWO.
FAW: Has a high reputation in South Africa and its surrounding countries (such as Zambia and Mozambique), but the after-sales network coverage in West Africa and Central Africa is relatively weaker.

2. Chassis and Off-Road Capability (Resilience in Harsh Road Conditions)

Shaanxi Auto: It has the “Golden Power Chain” (Wuxi Engine + Fatasch Transmission + Hande Axle) and chassis technology derived from German MAN. Its frame is sturdy and has extremely strong torsional resistance. On unpaved roads, deep pits or muddy sections, Shaanxi Auto’s drivability is generally recognized to be superior to Hovwuo.
Howo: It also has a strong carrying capacity, but its suspension system has a slightly higher failure rate (such as broken leaf springs) under extremely bumpy road conditions compared to Shaanxi Auto. It is more suitable for standard construction sites and general overloading.
Faw: The chassis is solid, but in the extreme overloading environment in Africa, its reputation is slightly inferior to that of Shaanxi Auto and Hovwuo.

3. Stability of the power system

Shaanxi Auto & Howo: Most of the used cars exported currently are equipped with engines from Weichai or China Heavy Industry. The Weichai engine has a very good reputation in Africa: it has a simple structure, is durable, and does not have a preference for specific types of fuel (the low-quality diesel in Africa is a killer for precision engines).
Faw: Equipped with its own Xichai engine, the technology is very advanced and fuel-efficient. However, in Africa, if the diesel quality is not up to standard, the high-pressure common rail system of Liberation may be more “sensitive” than Weichai, and the maintenance costs will also be higher.

4. Driving and Riding Comfort

Howo: The cab design is quite mature, with ample space and a relatively refined interior. It has numerous storage compartments and is thus favored by drivers who frequently undertake long-distance trips.
Shaanxi Auto: The early models (such as F2000/F3000) had a relatively simple interior and focused on hardcore practicality. However, the new models (X3000 and later) have significantly improved comfort, especially in terms of shock absorption.
Faw: The ergonomic design of the cab is excellent, making it more like a passenger vehicle to drive. Its comfort level typically ranks among the top in the three brands.

5. Resale Value of Used truck Vehicles and Transferring Difficulty

Howo: The easiest to resell. Because everyone recognizes this brand, second-hand machinery circulates very quickly in the local market and has the highest residual value rate.
Shaanxi Auto: It also maintains its value well. Especially in mining and heavy-load transportation fields, knowledgeable buyers highly appreciate it.
Faw: The price of second-hand vehicles is usually slightly lower than the other two, and the resale speed is greatly affected by the region.

By 2025, based on the latest industry trends and export data (combined with the market briefings for the first half of 2025 and 2026), the sales proportions and market performances of these three brands have shown a distinct hierarchical pattern:

China Heavy Industry (HOWO): Dominating the “Top Spot”
Sales situation: HOWO is almost a “national truck” in countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Tanzania. The core reason for its high sales proportion lies in the extremely large existing stock base.
Shaanxi Automobile (SHACMAN): A “Pragmatic Performer” with a Rapid Growth Rate
Sales situation: Shaanxi Automobile performed particularly outstandingly in the tractor truck (Tractor Truck) segment in 2025. In Algeria and Kenya, Shaanxi Automobile’s monthly sales figures have repeatedly approached or even exceeded those of HOWO.
FAW (Jiefang): The “Local Champion” in Southern Africa
Sales situation: In South Africa, Jiefang has consistently topped Chinese brand sales for many years. In 2025, Jiefang’s market share in South Africa steadily increased, with the gains mainly concentrated in the 6×4 tractor truck segment.

Comprehensive Comparison Summary Table

Dimension	HOWO	SHACMAN	FAW
The strongest tag	African luxury cars and accessories can be purchased everywhere.	Mining tough guy, MAN chassis, Weichai power	High-end durability, advanced technology, a benchmark in South Africa
Suitable for road conditions	Highway + Ordinary Construction Site	Extremely rugged mining areas, muddy mountain roads, and severe overloading	International long-distance, high-speed / paved roads
Maintenance difficulty	The lowest (number of skilled workers)	Low	Medium
Accessory price	The cheapest	Cheap	Medium
Value for money	Extremely high	High	Medium-high
Core Advantage Area	The undisputed leader of the entire Africa	The mining areas in Central Asia, North Africa and East Africa have been growing rapidly.	The mining areas in Central Asia, North Africa, and East Africa have been growing rapidly.

Final suggestion:

If it involves mining, road construction, or heavy overloading transportation, the preferred choice is Shaicman (SHACMAN). Its chassis and axle are renowned for their reliability under extreme heavy loads within the industry.
If it is for ordinary logistics, urban construction, or initial export trials, just go with HOWO. The biggest advantage is that it is “easy to maintain and sell”, and even if the vehicle breaks down in a remote area, finding spare parts will be easy.
If it is destined for southern African countries such as South Africa and Zambia, you can consider FAW. The local after-sales service system is complete, and FAW’s fuel-saving advantage can save a significant amount of money during long-distance cross-border transportation.

（https://www.hebeicar.com/used-vehicles-by-type/）

For more videos, please check the actual vehicle. （https://www.tiktok.com/@usedtrucksexport）

🔗 Related Products

Popular Markets: Used Dump Trucks →