Foton Toano History

Introduced in 2015, the Foton Toano is a large commercial van occupying the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter class, measuring nearly six metres in length and accommodating up to 15 passengers in minibus configuration. Its exterior design closely mirrors the Sprinter — a consequence of being engineered by the same Stuttgart-based team that worked on the German van, facilitated by Foton's commercial relationship with Daimler through the BFDA joint venture.

Power comes from a 2.8 L Cummins ISF common-rail diesel producing 120 kW (160 hp) and 360 N·m, mated to a manual or automatic gearbox. The combination of European engineering provenance, Cummins reliability credentials, and competitive pricing has made the Toano popular for airport shuttles, hotel transfers, and last-mile logistics in the Philippines, Southeast Asia, and emerging African markets.

A Grand-V variant launched in 2024 expanded the Toano family with a more premium fitout. A fully electric eToano has since reached production — sold in European markets including Spain with a rear-mounted 130 kW (177 hp) motor and 77–101 kWh battery options (roughly 250–356 km WLTP) — alongside diesel; CNG has been floated as a fuel option but its production availability remains limited and market-specific.