With the success of these operators rising and trains getting heavier, the need of a complete new high-powered diesel locomotive series was becoming high, especially for cross-border freight traffic where absence of, or changes in electrification voltage made electric traction impossible or problematic.

[citation needed] Primarily due to environmental issues and high costs, developments for such a new locomotive series were pushed back whenever possible.

Thus EMD supplies the entire engine (see also prime mover) and power transmission system for these locomotives including the generator.

[citation needed] Cold weather variants are available - with additional devices to prevent snow causing problems.

Their chassis will resemble that of Vossloh's new Eurolight locomotive, they will utilize a newer and more advanced variant of the EMD710 12-cylinder 3,300 hp engine, will use newer computerized control systems and employ EMD/Siemens AC traction motors (rather than DC engines on the original Euro 3000 model) which will be mounted in a Bo'Bo' bogie of a different design than the earlier Euro 3000 model.

In late November 2014 the first of twenty new Afro 4000 diesel-electric locomotives for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) came ashore in Table Bay Harbour.

[12][13] In late 2015 Prasa began proceedings at the South African high court to terminate the contract for both the Afro4000 and other dual mode locomotives ordered from Vossloh - specific issues included the supplied diesel locomotives being substantially out of gauge for parts of the network (4.140 m or 13 ft 7 in high versus a 3.695 m or 12 ft 1+1⁄2 in limit specified by Transnet).