The domestic passenger car market has been sluggish since the beginning of this year. Wholesale sales declined 6% year-on-year in the first five months; if exports are excluded, retail sales declined even more by 19% year-on-year.
In sharp contrast to passenger cars, commercial vehicles achieved double-digit growth in sales from January to May, outperforming passenger cars year-on-year and exceeding market expectations.
The performance of leading enterprises was even more impressive. Foton Motor sold 58,000 units in May, ranking first in the industry, with a year-on-year growth of 17.3%. Cumulative sales from January to May exceeded 300,000 units, ranking first in the industry, with a year-on-year growth of 10%.
Among them, light truck sales in May reached 36,000 units, growing 10% year-on-year. Cumulative sales from January to May were nearly 200,000 units, ranking first in the industry for over a decade consecutively.
Heavy truck sales in May reached 16,000 units, surging 37% year-on-year. Cumulative sales from January to May were 76,000 units, growing 37.2% year-on-year, the fastest growth rate among the top five industry leaders.
New energy vehicle sales in May exceeded 12,000 units, surging 52.6% year-on-year. Cumulative sales from January to May exceeded 45,000 units, ranking second in the industry.
May exports exceeded 17,000 units, surging over 64.3% year-on-year, accounting for 30% of the month's sales. Cumulative exports from January to May were nearly 90,000 units, growing 38% year-on-year, ranking first in the industry for 15 consecutive years.
The data shows that the high growth of Foton Motor in May and the first five months is supported by four factors: light trucks continue to lead, heavy trucks grow significantly, new energy vehicles explode across the board, and exports lead and surge.
Foton achieved such impressive data primarily due to the recovery of the economic environment and demand. In terms of heavy trucks, domestic infrastructure construction accelerated, National III replacement for dump trucks and tractors was implemented, and demand for engineering heavy trucks and express tractors was strong, driving May heavy truck sales to grow positively for the fifth consecutive month year-on-year.
In terms of light trucks, peak seasons for express delivery, fresh cold chain, and urban distribution logistics continued, rural-urban freight demand recovered, and national monthly light truck sales stabilized at a high level above 160,000 units, with a robust demand base.
Secondly, Foton's product matrix is complete, with new products and high-end models gaining volume. For heavy trucks, there are Auman Galaxy (9, 7, 5, 3, T) high-end products and Xingyi + Xinghui models for volume, natural gas heavy trucks and battery swap heavy trucks targeting mining areas and trunk logistics markets. Foton Konwei power's fuel-saving advantages are highlighted, high-end heavy truck average prices increased while sales doubled. New energy heavy trucks with full technology routes (pure electric, hybrid, hydrogen fuel) are launched, vehicle-battery separation leasing lowers user purchase thresholds, driving explosive growth in new energy heavy trucks.
For light trucks, relying on the Auling, Aumark, and Time brand matrix and product differentiation to cover the market in layers. Fuel versions focus on cost-performance, new energy versions adapt to urban distribution restriction policies. Coverage ranges from 3.5-ton blue plate to heavy-duty yellow plate. Lightweight body optimized for new blue plate regulations, solving user registration pain points. Zhilan models and Qimingxing pure electric new products were stocked in May, becoming the core source of light truck volume growth.
Regarding new energy, many places nationwide implemented urban fuel truck restrictions, new energy vehicle purchase subsidies, and priority road rights policies. Electric delivery logistics in first-tier cities accelerated. Foton's "New Energy 30·50 Strategy" was implemented, partnering with Huawei Digital Power to build supercharging networks and co-investing with EVE Energy for battery leasing. The vehicle-battery separation model significantly reduces new energy vehicle down payments. In May, new energy light trucks and heavy trucks became the largest source of volume growth.
Additionally, Foton's channel downward move and marketing reform further drove sales through distributor network advantages. Foton has over 3000 sales networks and 10000+ service networks nationwide, extending from counties to township terminals. Time series target third and fourth-tier lines and rural freight, Auling targets city logistics, Aumark focuses on high-end cold chain, with segmented channels precisely split. In May, terminal purchase interest subsidies and financial zero-down payment policies were launched. Relying on light truck products' low maintenance and high fuel-saving TCO advantages, amidst competitor price wars, they gained orders in reverse trend through service and product strength, continuously capturing competitor lost customers.
Finally, exports growing 64% year-on-year and accounting for 30% of the month's sales was Foton's biggest highlight in May.
Overseas Markets Bloom Across the Board
Overseas markets are Foton's traditional strength. Starting from 2011, it became China's number one commercial vehicle exporter, and Foton has never let this title slip away.
In the first four months of this year, Foton whole vehicle exports grew 32% year-on-year, with overseas market share at 17.5%. In May, large batches of light trucks, buses, and pickups were sent to Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America. Electric buses were delivered in batches to Australia, making overseas volume growth more significant.
From the export product structure perspective, heavy trucks mainly Auman grew significantly, May exports exceeded 2,000 units, growing 42.6% year-on-year. Ouhang and Aumark models were even more dramatic, overseas sales exceeded 4,600 units, surging 280% year-on-year. Time and Pickup grew by 47.4% and 60% respectively.
Cumulative exports from January to May exceeded nearly 90,000 units, growing 38% year-on-year, firmly maintaining the lead in domestic commercial vehicle exports.
From the export regional distribution perspective, benefiting from the RCEP tariff exemption policy implementation in Southeast Asia, urban distribution and cold chain demand exploded in Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Foton Thailand Factory mass-produced right-hand drive light trucks have radiated to Southeast Asian countries, with Auling and Aumark high-end light trucks selling hot.
Africa is the region with the highest export growth rate for Foton. In 2025, Foton sales in the African region grew over 120% year-on-year. In the first quarter of 2026, sales grew 96% year-on-year. Foton Heavy Commercial products were deeply customized and calibrated for Africa's complex road conditions, fuel consumption performance benchmarks European top brands, lowest fuel consumption among domestic commercial vehicles of the same level, balancing power performance and operating costs, perfectly adapted to high-intensity operation scenarios such as cross-border logistics and mine transportation. In May, Heavy Commercial product exports broke 1,000 units, doubling year-on-year, full category exports in January-May broke 10,000 units. Infrastructure and mineral development in countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and Ethiopia drove whole vehicle procurement, relying on 12 local factories to ship whole vehicles and spare parts simultaneously.
In the Middle East region, relying on Saudi Arabia and UAE energy infrastructure and intercity logistics upgrades, Auman high-horsepower tractors and dump trucks signed contracts in batches and landed. Hybrid heavy trucks increased volume relying on local new energy subsidies.
Europe and Australia issued commercial vehicle carbon emission controls, accelerating the elimination of old diesel vehicles. Foton high-end new energy products achieved breakthroughs in Europe and Australia. Toano electric VANs were bulk purchased by Germany and Italy, raising overseas vehicle profitability levels.
Behind Foton's high export growth is the result of long-term sustained deep diving into overseas markets.
For example, in terms of R&D center count, there are 10 domestically and 8 overseas. Manufacturing bases are 20 domestically and 32 overseas, widely distributed in Southeast Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Africa. Sales and services cover over 140 countries and regions, with overseas sales networks exceeding 1,200 and service networks exceeding 1,500.
Overseas R&D bases cooperate with domestic R&D to localize exported products. For example, optimize chassis and power for overseas road conditions. Aumark high-end light trucks adapt to Southeast Asia cold chain, Auman high-horsepower heavy trucks match Middle East infrastructure, hybrid and pure electric models adapt to overseas new energy subsidy policies.
In production and manufacturing, local factories in multiple countries have started production, reducing tariff costs and shortening delivery cycles. Pickups and light trucks rely on localized production to quickly seize cost-performance markets.
Regarding new energy, Foton fully self-developed three-electric systems, covering pure electric, hybrid, and hydrogen fuel technology routes. The entire series of new energy commercial vehicles passed EU and Australia's strict certifications. 2.2C fast charging and other technologies became differentiated selling points to expand market recognition.
In the coming months, production lines at new local factories in Brazil and Ethiopia will continue to ramp up. Southeast Asian rainy season cold chain stocking, Africa second half infrastructure construction, Foton exports are expected to continue the high-growth trend.
In the medium to long term, European new energy commercial vehicle penetration rates continue to rise, Latin American import substitution demand is released, helping overseas share stabilize above 30%, diversifying domestic stock market competition pressure, and improving a sustainable and healthy global layout.
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