Chinese heavy-duty make aims to strengthen exports to more advanced economies
China National Heavy Duty Truck Group Corp (Sinotruk) is looking to first world markets in its expansion plans, with Australasia on the list, according to local publication China Daily.
The focus on advanced economies such as Australia and New Zealand follows the emergence in March 2018 of a deal with the Hong Kong government for 34 Euro 6 street washing vehicles, said to be an emissions-control first for a Chinese truckmaker and building on a 300-unit Euro 5 deal it gained in 2013.
In that year, the company announced testing of an autonomous electric truck, saying it had “put into use the world’s first unmanned electric truck in Tianjin Port, marking the important step forward for the unmanned L4 electric truck to move from the conceptual phase to commercial use”.
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According to China Daily, Sinotruk expects to lift its annual exports globally by 24 per cent this year, to 45,000 units, after selling 12,589 in the first four months of the year.
“While maintaining its momentum in Africa and Asia, the company is foraying into high-end markets in countries and regions like Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong,” the publication says.
In March this year, HK-listed Sinotruk’s annual report for 2018 notes momentum gained from international links.
“By strengthening its cooperation with the MAN Group and other reputable international enterprises, the Group develops high quality and high-tech standard engines, parts and components as well as whole truck designs to further grow its industrial competitive edge,” it says.
The China Daily article makes plain its desire to compete with the biggest truckmakers globally, quoting international department general manager Lan Junjie as saying: “Our country’s higher emission standards have promoted Chinese companies to enhance their core scientific research and development abilities and upgrade the manufacturing level. In five to 10 years, we hope that we can compete with rivals like Volvo technologically.”
At the start of the year, the company had the group had 110 primary distributor sales centres in more than 60 countries and regions. Through cooperation with overseas distributors, it has also established 231 service outlets and 205 spare parts and accessory stores.