Beiqi Foton Motor Co has launched a heavy-duty truck – the Auman GTL – for the U.S. and European markets with stringent environmental requirements. In the past, Foton mainly exported to Southeast Asian, South American and African markets. The company has been the top Chinese maker of commercial vehicles since 2003. It shipped 693,000 units in 2010. The company has produced 5 million vehicles since its foundation in 1996, and has factories in Indonesia, Vietnam, Russia, Mexico, Pakistan, Turkey and Iran. More are under construction in South America and Africa. Last year, international sales exceeded 31,800 units, but Beiqi has yet to penetrate the U.S. and European markets. The GTL cost CNY1.7 billion to develop. The company plans to open 100 to 200 franchise stores in the U.S. and Europe before exporting the model. Beiqi Foton is cooperating with U.S.-based Cummins, a maker of gasoline engines, which has already built more than 100 service stores overseas.