Camiones del Valle was founded in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, in an environment where many businesses were coming to a standstill and few were considering starting from scratch. However, for Javier Sánchez Castañeda, the company’s general manager, this adverse context was also the perfect opportunity to build a unique approach to truck distribution from the ground up .
Today, five years later, the company has sold more than 1,200 units, has 100 employees, and operates multiple business divisions.
“The pandemic was a difficult start, but it also forced us to seek opportunities and differentiate ourselves from the outset,” Sánchez recalled. In 2022 and 2023, the company achieved significant sales, including more than 500 units in a single year and a project in the southeast of the country that added more than 800 units with strategic partners. In 2024, the objective was clear: to consolidate that growth.
Camiones del Valle ‘s growth has not been limited to its role as a distributor of Foton brand vehicles . From the outset, the company has also focused on building a solid after-sales service network . Currently, the company operates a multi-brand service shop, a collision center certified by two insurers, and a spare parts sales area .
In 2024, they added a new line of business: daily unit rentals . “It’s a format that allows companies to cover peak demand without having to purchase vehicles. It’s been very well received,” explained Sánchez.
With the entry into force of NOM 044 on emissions, Camiones del Valle expressed its pleasure with the work of Fotón México. “Today we are ready with Euro 6 technologies, the prices are extremely competitive, and the performance of each unit is ideal for the Mexican market,” stated Sánchez.
Currently, more than 225 of the company’s units are in operation in “strategic government projects, such as the Mayan Train and works executed by the Ministry of National Defense ,” Sánchez explained.
Asian market challenges and service response
One of the main challenges the company sees is the increasing entry of Asian brands into the Mexican market. “This opens up the range of options, but it also brings with it the stigma that Chinese products are low quality. Foton has proven the opposite,” said Sánchez, who emphasizes that technical support is key to breaking these paradigms.
The units they sell combine Cummins engines, ZF transmissions, and German-made cabs. However, the executive acknowledged that the challenge also lies in the perception of insurers, who fear higher policy costs due to the complexity of repairing Asian units.
“There’s no point in buying cheap if spare parts aren’t available. Our focus is on keeping our units producing, and when something happens, we react faster than any other brand,” Sánchez said.
When asked about his leadership style within the company, Sánchez responded bluntly: “Consistency, passion for what we do, genuine commitment to the customer, and leading by example. Here, we take care of the customer and the team the way we would like to be taken care of.”
Although the company has been operating for five years, its structure is comprised of individuals with solid track records in the industry. Javier Sánchez began his career in 1991 working for major and renowned brands in the sector. His partner, Óscar de Vega, also has over 30 years in the sector.
In closing, the CEO of Camiones del Valle summed up the company’s spirit in two phrases: ” Right the first time ” and ” Valley’s commitment .” The latter, he asserted, is a promise that goes beyond an advertising campaign.
“If there’s a commitment to us, we’ll go all out, be where we’re needed, and do what’s necessary to get unity back on track,” he said.
Sánchez affirmed that this is the driving force behind Camiones del Valle: a genuine passion for the industry, an expert structure, and a philosophy that has been the foundation of its growth in just five years.
(Main image source: FOTON)
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