China is intractable in the electric car race, and is on its way to repeating with load trucks

The conquest of China in terms of electric cars has been noted over the last years, with A special thrust in Europe that has put the entire industry in suspense. But they are not the only type of vehicle with which it intends to conquer the globe. They also have a great presence their merchandise trucks. And is that Byd, manufacturer who has broken like nobody in the automobile sector, already sends electric charge trucks to Italy, Poland, Spain, and even Mexico, along with eight other Chinese companies that dominate the global market. Chinese brands monopolized 80% of the 90,000 world sales of electric charge trucks last year, according to The International Energy Agency.

Why does this matter now. As they share from Rest of the WorldCO₂ emissions of heavy vehicles have grown almost 3% annually between 2000 and 2018, and trucks represent 80% of that increase. Its enormous environmental impact converts the electrification of merchandise transport into a key piece for global climatic objectives. And China has understood that there is a huge business opportunity.

A domain with origin. China’s advantage does not arise from nothing. According to They share From the middle, it is born from a 15 -year government campaign in which commercial vehicles deal with as national priority, forcing manufacturers to produce electric vehicles as a percentage of their total production. Meanwhile, Western countries have limited themselves to offering tax credits to individual buyers. The result? In China, electric trucks They knead 22% of the heavy vehicle market In the first half of 2025. In Europe they represent only 1% of sales, and in India only 280 long -distance electrical trucks from a total of 834,578 commercial vehicles were sold.

Profitability is no longer a promise. Chinese fleet operators report that their electric trucks cost between 10% and 26% less operate than diesel models, according to The commercial consultant Vehicle World. Catl, the largest worldwide electrical battery manufacturer, assures that its batteries reduce transport costs by 35% per ton-kilometer. These data have led to manufacturers such as Sany Group to predict That between 70% and 80% of the Chinese heavy truck market will be electric in a few years.

The solution of the recharge problem. A typical load truck needs approximately a megavatio-hora of battery capacity, ten times what a Tesla Model 3. While in Europe truckers have mandatory breaks of 45 minutes every 4.5 hours (A time that can be used to load the truck), in markets such as Brazil or India commercial drivers usually drive between 10 and 18 hours in a row. China has resolved this dilemma through battery exchange technology, which they already use almost 40% of its heavy electric trucks.

West goes far behind. Volvo, the main manufacturer in the West, barely has delivered 5,000 electric trucks In 50 countries. The case of South Africa illustrates its difficulties, because after two years in the market, Volvo has sold only Six unitstoo few to justify the local assembly. Importing them would have triggered prices in a country without buying subsidies. Meanwhile, Tesla promised Your semi truck In 2017, he delivered it in testimonial quantities to Pepsi in 2022 and practically It has disappeared for high component and cost failures.

The global expansion is already underway. Byd It has facilities To produce electric load trucks throughout China and plan international assembly plants. Beiqi Foton already sends trucks to EU markets despite possible tariffs. In June, Chinese manufacturer Windrose announced plans to Establish a factory in GeorgiaUSA. “Chinese companies will adapt their entrance to the market strategies: supplying components where regulations require local manufacturing, establishing direct sales in other places,” Explain Ravi Gadepalli, founder of the Transit Intelligence consultant.

The key is in capital. Commercial transport is dominated by small operators with very tight margins that lack capital for vehicles that cost twice as their diesel equivalents, although operating costs end up compensating. “Financing is the main obstacle in India, while in China the government invested significant capital to boost the sector,” Point out Gadepalli. However, the same expert warns that “it is very likely that Chinese electric truck manufacturers revolutionize the global cargo truck market. We have already seen it with cars and buses, and it is likely to continue.” He does not lack reason either as far as electric buses are concerned, because it is Another market in which China dominates.

It still remains. The global heavy electric truck market will reach only 5,000 million dollars by 2030, a tiny fraction of the 6 billion electric vehicle market, according to The Grand View Research analysis firm. Most sales will be light commercial vehicles for urban cast, according to Share The medium, since long -distance trucks will continue to generate more emissions. Although seeing how unstoppable China is in the electric vehicle, the given estimates may underestimate the country’s growth rate in this sector.

Cover image | Daniel Fikri

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