September Overseas Sales of 19,000 Units Increase by 40%, Foton Motor's "Systematic Export" Advances Further

[First Commercial Vehicle Network Original]

Entering 2026, the green transformation of the global commercial vehicle market continues to accelerate, and overseas market competition has also extended from single-product contests to comprehensive battles of technology, service, and local operation capabilities. The overseas expansion methods of Chinese commercial vehicle brands are shifting from "product export" to systematic export.

For Foton Motor, the overseas market has become an important part of business growth. In September 2026, Foton Motor sold 55,000 vehicles of various types; among them, overseas sales reached 19,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 38.9%, with overseas business continuing the growth trend. The sales volume for the first three quarters was 518,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 7.9%. Apart from sales volume, the layout made in recent years around products, technology, services, and local operations is also becoming an important support for the continuous expansion of the overseas market.

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Multiple Business Segments Work Together, Overseas Sales Grow Steadily

From the market performance in September, Foton Motor's overseas business continues to maintain strong growth resilience. Data shows that Foton Motor sold 19,000 vehicles overseas in September, a year-on-year increase of 38.9%. Sales in the first three quarters reached 169,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 43.6%. With differentiated global market demand and significant differences in regulations and operating environments across different regions, overseas sales are still able to maintain relatively fast growth. It can be seen that Foton Motor's accumulation in the overseas market over the years is gradually being converted into scaled results.

From the product segment perspective, multiple business segments under Foton Motor have all contributed significant overseas market increments. Among them, Auman, Auman/Aumark, Ollin, Ouhui Coach, and Tunel overseas markets September sales year-on-year growth rates were 91.6%, 52.5%, 81.8%, 94.8%, and 55.7% respectively. The overseas layout of heavy-duty trucks, light trucks, buses, Van, and other businesses has enabled the markets and application scenarios covered by Foton Motor to be continuously expanded. Collaborative efforts of multiple product categories have also made Foton Motor's overseas business growth sources more diverse.

If the time dimension is extended further, Foton Motor's overseas market growth trend becomes more obvious. From January to September 2026, Foton Motor's cumulative overseas sales reached 169,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 43.6%. This not only laid a solid foundation for the realization of its annual goals but also indicates that Foton Motor's overseas business has shifted from early opportunistic exports to relatively stable scaled operations. Especially in markets with obvious differences in regulations and operating conditions such as Europe, the Americas, and Southeast Asia, being able to maintain cumulative growth puts more strain on product adaptability and local operation capabilities.

Foton Motor's sales growth is not dependent on low prices for volume. In recent years, with the gradual introduction of new energy products, intelligent configurations, and localized services, the acceptance of Foton Motor among overseas mid-to-high-end customers is rising, and the quality of growth has significantly improved. For Chinese commercial vehicle brands in the critical stage of brand upward movement, this change is more meaningful than pure quantity expansion.

The Change from "Product Export" to "Systematic Export"

The growth in overseas sales relies on product competitiveness, and equally relies on Foton Motor's continuous adaptation to overseas market rules and customer needs. Compared with the early model dominated by complete vehicle exports, Foton Motor now attaches more importance to the collaborative overseas expansion of R&D, products, channels, services, and supply chain links.

At the 2026 Hannover International Transportation Exhibition, Foton Motor exhibited with 7 complete vehicles and 6 sets of self-developed core components. The exhibition scope covered multiple commercial vehicle product fields, and the European strategy was officially released. During the same period, CAVAN BEACON flagship heavy truck completed its overseas premiere, and Foton Motor's 13 millionth vehicle globally also completed delivery to the European market. Compared with simply displaying complete vehicles, the simultaneous appearance of complete vehicles and core components this time also reflects that Foton Motor is participating in overseas market competition with a more complete product and technology system. At the same time, Ouhui eAURORA pure electric city bus completed its overseas debut and obtained WVTA European vehicle certification. For new energy commercial vehicles entering the European market, adapting to local regulations and operating conditions from the product development stage is an important foundation for achieving market access and meeting subsequent operation needs.

Beyond products, service and certification systems are also being perfected synchronously. In September, Foton Motor signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with TÜV Rheinland. Both sides will further deepen cooperation in areas such as regulation certification, technical compliance, intelligent driving, data security, new energy test certification, and localized services.

More importantly, this idea of synergy between products and services is extending from Europe to other markets. After GALAXUS R5 was launched in Vietnam, corresponding designated service stations, dedicated contacts, and 7×24 hour service hotline services were provided synchronously; CAVAN C1 right-hand drive models entered Thailand, also relying on the local after-sales service system to promote new energy commercial vehicle business. Obviously, Foton Motor knows very well that overseas market competition is no longer just about "selling cars", but is gradually shifting to a comprehensive test of products, channels, after-sales, and local operation capabilities.

Overseas Layout Enters the Stage of In-depth Cultivation

According to First Commercial Vehicle Network's observation, the continuous expansion of Foton Motor's overseas business is closely related to the promotion of its "Comprehensive Internationalization, Comprehensive New Energy, Comprehensive Intelligence" strategy. During this Hannover Auto Show, Foton Motor officially released the European strategy and proposed development goals to achieve a 50% share of new energy sales and a 40% internationalization rate by 2030. Europe is positioned as the core hub market of the global strategy and also an important region for Foton Motor to further promote brand internationalization.

For the European market, Foton Motor emphasizes "In Europe, For Europe" and plans to further promote localization development. According to relevant planning, a European local technology center will be established in 2028, and local assembly production will be steadily advanced. This will further extend from R&D definition and local manufacturing to parts guarantee and terminal services to improve the product's adaptability to European regulations and local market demands. Currently, Foton Motor has established sales and service networks in nearly 20 countries in Europe, set up a regional parts distribution center in Germany, and built national parts warehouses in 17 countries. The number of service outlets across the whole of Europe has exceeded 300.

In markets such as the Americas and Southeast Asia, Foton Motor adopts different rhythms according to regional differences. The Latin American market values mining, ports, and cross-border trunk line transportation. The right-hand drive market in Southeast Asia is releasing demand for new energy urban distribution and long-distance trunk lines. Through "One Zone One Policy, One Country One Policy" product development and local services, Foton Motor combines global technology platforms with local scenarios, gradually converting sales growth into brand assets and system capabilities. As more local technology centers, service networks, and energy ecosystem projects are implemented, its overseas business is expected to move from scale expansion to quality and efficiency.

From the current layout, Foton Motor has not adopted the exact same method to enter all overseas markets but instead promotes product and service adaptation according to regulations, customer needs, and operating scenarios of different regions. From the new energy and high-end product layout in the European market to Southeast Asian right-hand drive models and localized services, its overseas business is forming a more refined regional operation concept. As capabilities such as products, technology, certification, and services further extend overseas, Foton Motor's globalization is also gradually shifting from early product exports to the output of full-chain capabilities.

Conclusion

From products going out, to technology, services, and operation systems going out further, Foton Motor's global layout is entering a deeper stage. In the future, with the continued promotion of localization layouts in key markets such as Europe, and new energy products landing in more regions, the overseas market is expected to continue to become an important support for Foton Motor's business growth.