SHACMAN's heavy trucks building bridges across the world

At the just concluded IAA Transportation, visitors expressed interest in products of Shaanxi Heavy Duty Automobile Import and Export Co and inquired about their availability for purchase as the automaker showcased a variety of flagship models. Also known as SHACMAN, the automaker aimed to highlight China's advanced technology and innovative accomplishments in the commercial vehicle sector on the global stage.

As the most influential international event in the commercial vehicle sector, this year's IAA Transportation, held from Sept 17 to 22 in Hannover, Germany, attracted automakers from more than 40 countries and regions.

SHACMAN's exhibits included the X6000 tractor, L4 intelligent and energy-efficient tractor, a liquefied natural gas-powered tractor, a hydrogen fuel cell tractor and the urban logistics L6000 model. These rely on energy sources such as hydrogen fuel, diesel, natural gas and pure electricity. The models also feature Level 4 autonomous driving functions and high output capabilities, demonstrating SHACMAN's strength.

SHACMAN also shined at the China Day event of the exhibition on Sept 18 with General Manager Zhou Xiangqiang sharing insights of industry trends.

In recent years, SHACMAN has made efforts to expand its overseas footprint with products sold in more than 140 countries and regions. Cumulative exports have surpassed 340,000 units, ranking among the best nationwide in terms of export volume and value.

In 2023, SHACMAN achieved its best yearly exports with 56,000 vehicles shipped overseas, a 64 percent increase from 2022. They accounted for more than 20 percent of China's heavy-duty truck exports, with one in every five trucks coming from SHACMAN.

From January to August of this year, SHACMAN received 39,000 overseas orders, with an increase of 7 percent year-on-year. It registered 13 billion yuan ($1.85 billion) in export revenue, a 15 percent increase from 2023.

The company's global venture began in 1988, with 13 units of an off-road model exported. Through persistent efforts to explore new markets, expand its distribution channels and enhance local partnerships, the company's annual overseas sales had increased to 10,000 units two decades later.

Innovation-driven development is central to SHACMAN. The company has two major research and development institutions — a technology center and the automobile engineering research institute — which have accumulated a total of 3,672 authorized patents.

According to Feng Zhou, director of the product analysis center at SHACMAN engineering research institute, the automaker leads in clean energy, new energy and smart connected commercial vehicles. It boasts 485 patents and key project involvement, for example, developing China's first Level 4 intelligent heavy-duty truck and fuel cell vehicle.

Feng said: "In 2023, we advanced 48 key technological breakthroughs, commercializing core technologies such as automated manual transmission control, autonomous driving, steer-by-wire and hydrogen fuel cell vehicle matching, which have strengthened the group's core competitiveness."

SHACMAN has ramped up the release of high-end products. The flagship X6000 garnered sales of 2,500 units in the first eight months of this year. This product has been delivered to 14 countries and regions including Russia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Peru, Mexico and Colombia. The sales proportion of high-end products — such as the X3000, X5000 and X6000 — has risen from 7 percent in 2019 to 60 percent currently, highlighting their market presence.

"In recent years, we have actively partnered with more international partners and recruited top export channels in key markets such as Africa and Southeast Asia, enhancing our global marketing network," said Hua Xin, deputy general manager of SHACMAN. By now, the company has established 40 overseas offices, with more than 190 dealerships, 400 overseas service outlets and 240 parts and components shops, covering regions such as Africa, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Central and South America. Meanwhile, it has started localized production in 17 countries including Mexico, South Africa and Morocco, helping to boost those countries' infrastructure and create jobs there.

Among the more than 140 overseas destinations of SHACMAN, 132 are countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. The automaker has been involved in infrastructure projects by providing 28,000 heavy-duty trucks to countries such as Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Pakistan.

With reliable product quality and professional after-sales service, SHACMAN has been exploring niche market demands, improving its channel layout and has secured bids for the railway project in Simandou, Guinea, and the highway project in Malawi this year.

Hua said the company has expedited product upgrades to cater to the diverse demands of various countries, rather than simply selling what they had.

SHACMAN's X3000 all-wheel-drive desert tractor, designed for the Middle East, has received widespread acclaim since its introduction for addressing the region's distinctive climate challenges.

The company's star product, a side-loader port tractor, has been used in ports in Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkiye, South Africa, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Their self-developed electric version is also gaining popularity in Europe, including the UK and the Netherlands.

In Indonesia, where foreign brands dominated the heavy-duty truck market for years, SHACMAN faces challenges due to limited local awareness. During customer visits, SHACMAN's team helped a local company with a stalled fleet by coordinating repairs, impressing the customers with their assistance.

The Indonesian company later purchased 50 dump trucks for mining transport with SHACMAN providing full-service support, including two dedicated after-sales personnel tracking the vehicles' usage.