Heavy trucks, officially categorised as heavy commercial vehicles (HCVs) or heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), refer to commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) exceeding specified regulatory limits, purpose-built for heavy-duty freight transport. Standing as the largest and most powerful workhorses in the commercial vehicle segment, heavy trucks are distinguished by their high payload capacity, superior transport efficiency, and versatile operational capabilities. They serve as the vital economic backbone across long-haul trunk-line logistics, infrastructure construction, and bulk resource haulage.
The technical definition of a heavy truck varies slightly across different regulatory frameworks. Under the early Chinese national standard GB/T 3730.1-1988, a heavy truck was defined as a goods vehicle with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 14 tonnes. Under current road transport regulations and type approval standards (GB/T 15089-2001), Category N3 vehicles (goods vehicles with a maximum design gross vehicle weight exceeding 12,000 kg) fall under the heavy truck classification. Today, the 12-tonne threshold serves as the accepted industry benchmark.
By build type, heavy trucks are categorised into fully built rigid trucks, prime movers (semi-trailer tractors), and heavy-duty chassis cabs (incomplete vehicles). By application, they are divided into general logistics and construction haulage; by powertrain, they encompass conventional diesel internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks, natural gas (LNG/CNG) trucks, and new energy commercial vehicles (including battery electric, hybrid, and fuel cell electric powertrains). Prime movers represent the flagship segment within the heavy-duty sector, serving as the core workhorse for long-distance highway haulage.
China's heavy-duty commercial vehicle sector is undergoing a profound structural shift. In the first half of 2026, cumulative sales of new energy heavy trucks reached approximately 140,000 units, charting a robust year-on-year surge of 78.6%. Notably, new energy models contributed 75% to the industry's overall incremental sales volume in 2025, with this contribution rate climbing further to 88% between January and May 2026—indicating that current industry growth is almost entirely driven by green commercial vehicles.
The powertrain transition within the prime mover market is particularly striking. In May 2026, new energy prime movers commanded a 53.0% market share, while natural gas units took 31.5%, and conventional diesel prime movers contracted to just 15.0%. These figures underline that traditional diesel haulers are no longer the primary volume drivers, as market share rapidly redistributes based on route profiles and energy replenishment infrastructure.
On the global front, heavy truck exports have become a crucial growth pillar for the industry. In May 2026, commercial vehicle exports reached 120,000 units, reflecting a 44% year-on-year increase. SINOTRUK has retained the top spot in both export volume and overall domestic sales for multiple consecutive years, commanding nearly 50% of the export market and roughly 30% of total industry sales. Primary export destinations remain focused on Africa, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
The new energy heavy truck segment is now in a critical phase of transitioning from "pilot demonstration programmes" to "rapid mainstream adoption". Driving this market penetration is a dual push from policy frameworks and market dynamics: amidst volatile and elevated global crude oil prices in the first half of 2026, the operational cost benefits of electric power have become increasingly compelling. Coupled with lower maintenance overheads and reduced component wear, fleet operators are seeing substantial total cost of ownership (TCO) advantages.
National roadmaps for new energy heavy trucks have outlined clear milestones. In June 2026, eleven central government ministries, including the Ministry of Transport, jointly rolled out the "Implementation Plan for Large-Scale Deployment of New Energy Heavy Trucks". The directive targets a 40% adoption rate for new energy heavy trucks by 2030, with active vehicle parc exceeding 1.6 million units. Furthermore, the electrification rate for fixed-route short-haul operations in priority regions such as Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and the Fenwei Plain is slated to surpass 80%, supported by a nationwide network of 3,000 highway heavy-duty charging and battery-swapping stations spanning 30,000 km of zero-carbon freight corridors.
Short-term fiscal incentives continue to inject momentum into the market. The 2026 fleet renewal and scrappage scheme for ageing commercial hauliers remains underway, backed by RM22,000,000,000 in ultra-long-term special government bonds specifically allocated to support fleet upgrades to new energy heavy trucks. Early scrappage of commercial goods vehicles with 4 axles and above qualifies for rebates of up to RM45,000, whilst new purchases of qualified new energy heavy trucks are eligible for purchase subsidies reaching up to RM95,000.
Industry consolidation among market leaders is accelerating. In the powertrain sector, Weichai Power remains the dominant domestic player, maintaining an unassailable lead in the natural gas heavy truck engine segment with a long-term market share above 50%. On the vehicle assembly front, monthly deliveries of new energy prime movers in May 2026 saw XCMG, FAW Jiefang, and SANY secure the top three spots with 3,946 units, 3,234 units, and 3,159 units respectively, setting the stage for direct head-to-head competition among top marques. Market rivalry has evolved beyond "selling standalone truck models" to "delivering integrated fleet solutions", putting each manufacturer's multi-scenario versatility and multi-powertrain adaptability to the test.
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