Transition to Passenger Vehicles, Cross-Category Growth: Mars Pickup

The Mars pickup comes in two variants: the Mars 7 and Mars 9. They are distinguished by two distinct front-end designs—a rugged mecha-inspired look and a sleek phantom-style aesthetic. Both feature dynamic interstellar-inspired side lines and full-width rear taillights, delivering a commanding presence that carries forward Foton's signature rugged design language while appealing to younger consumers' tastes.

Built on the FIA (Full-size Intelligent Architecture) platform, one standout feature is its status as China's largest full-size pickup. The Mars pickup's standard-wheelbase model exceeds 5.6 meters in length, while the long-wheelbase variant approaches 5.8 meters. With a wheelbase surpassing 3.5 meters and a width nearing 2.1 meters, it pioneers the domestic full-size pickup segment. The Mars pickup also offers efficient modular configurations to meet diverse customer demands. Its spacious interior accommodates multiple engine bay and chassis designs, enabling compatibility with various powertrains.

The powertrain system represents another key advantage in Foton's entry into the new energy pickup market, showcasing the company's foresight and technological reserves cultivated through years of immersion in the pickup sector. The Mars Pickup pioneers China's first domestically produced pickup equipped with a 48V diesel hybrid system. Featuring intelligent start-stop technology, energy recovery capabilities, an active grille shutter, and ultra-low drag design, it intelligently engages electric assistance during acceleration, hill climbs, and other demanding conditions based on engine-motor efficiency calculations. This approach preserves the diesel engine's power advantages while delivering reduced fuel consumption, lower noise levels, and quicker acceleration. Reportedly, the Mars pickup achieves a minimum fuel consumption of 6.8L per 100 kilometers.

The powertrain pairs with a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission, delivering a 50% improvement in shift efficiency and achieving up to 96% transmission efficiency. Torque at low-to-mid speeds increases to 220 N·m, with peak torque reaching 450 N·m. Additionally, the new model incorporates an intelligent on-demand four-wheel-drive system with seven all-terrain modes and front/rear differential locks, significantly enhancing off-road capability.

Technology Defines Luxury: Mars Pickup Advances Globally

As Foton's flagship model targeting the mid-to-high-end pickup market, the Mars Pickup fully embodies luxury through its comprehensive features.

Interior highlights include a space-grade quiet cabin, a 14.6-inch central touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 10-way power-adjustable seats, wireless charging, digital key access, remote vehicle control, and an expansive panoramic sunroof.

For smart connectivity, the Mars pickup collaborates with Tencent to build a future-oriented ecosystem, integrating the Tencent TAI 4.0 intelligent ecosystem cockpit. This delivers full-scenario smart in-vehicle services, supporting real-time communication, karaoke entertainment, smart living, social networking, intelligent travel, screen mirroring, and advanced human-machine interaction.

For intelligent driving, the Mars Pickup achieves Level 2.5 autonomy, featuring comprehensive driver assistance functions including adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, lane-keeping assist, and forward collision warning. It is committed to delivering the most advanced driver assistance system in the pickup segment.

Notably, the Mars pre-sale marks merely the first step in Foton Pickup's journey toward new energy and brand advancement. Supported by a new platform architecture, Foton will expand into multiple green powertrain options including pure electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell variants. It will also offer suspension choices like double wishbone front, multi-link and leaf spring rear, and air suspension to enhance the company's core competitiveness in the new energy wave. Simultaneously, leveraging the Mars series as its vehicle, the company will accelerate its globalization efforts, advancing into overseas markets such as Southeast Asia, Europe, Australia, and the Americas to achieve its strategic goal of becoming “China's premier high-end pickup truck brand” at the earliest opportunity.

Overall, the Mars pickup's strong sales are no coincidence. Foton's comprehensive understanding of China's pickup market and early entry into the new energy sector gave the Mars a head start. Its advantages—larger dimensions, richer configurations, and more powerful drivetrains within the same price range—drive its sustained sales growth. For the Mars pickup, Foton pioneered a multi-channel distribution model, completing upgrades in passenger vehicle-like refinement, digitalization, and standardization, while continuously deepening its presence in county-level markets...

Having perfected its “platform, powertrain, aesthetics, interior, and intelligent safety” features, the Mars pickup will replace the General as the flagship model in Foton's pickup lineup. It will also pioneer domestic full-size pickup product development and new energy exploration, driving Foton's passenger-oriented transformation and cross-category expansion while setting new trends for rugged domestic pickup trucks.