Chinese electric truck manufacturers are leveraging their established EV supply chain advantages to dominate the nascent electric trucking sector, capturing 70% of global sales in 2023 despite electric trucks representing less than 1% of worldwide truck sales. However, this expansion faces mounting challenges from international tariffs and lingering quality perceptions, reports AFP.

The strategy mirrors China‘s successful approach in the passenger EV market, where companies like BYD have already surpassed Tesla in quarterly revenue. Major players including BYD and Beiqi Foton are establishing global manufacturing footprints, with assembly plants operating in strategic markets across Europe and North America to navigate growing trade tensions.

Technical performance remains a key battlefield. Chinese manufacturers typically offer shorter ranges compared to Western competitors, with median heavy-duty truck ranges around 155 miles versus 200 miles in the U.S. market. BYD’s flagship 8TT model provides approximately 200 miles of range, significantly less than Tesla Semi‘s claimed 500-mile capability. However, newer entrants like Windrose are closing this gap, promising ranges up to 416 miles on a single charge.

Battery technology presents unique challenges for heavy-duty applications. “The larger the battery, the longer the range. But the larger the battery, the heavier the truck… and the worse the fuel economy,” notes IEA analyst Elizabeth Connelly. Chinese manufacturers are addressing this through innovation, with battery giant CATL deploying battery-swapping stations to eliminate charging downtime.

The sector’s growth faces headwinds from increasing international trade tensions. Following recent EV passenger vehicle tariffs from the EU and US over alleged Chinese state subsidies, similar measures could target the trucking sector. Companies are adapting through localized production – BYD emphasizes its union workforce in Lancaster, California, while maintaining production facilities in Hungary and Romania. New entrant Windrose has proactively distributed its operations globally, including relocating key headquarters to Belgium.

International expansion strategy reflects a delicate balance between leveraging China’s manufacturing advantages and adapting to local market demands. “We do embrace the fact that every major market would like its own domestic supply chain of EV,” explains Windrose founder Han Wen, while acknowledging China’s critical role: “You have to start in China. There’s no alternative.”

Product durability remains a concern despite improving quality. “Historically, Chinese trucks tended to have a shorter useful lifecycle than European or Japanese trucks,” observes Stephen Dyer from AlixPartners. While quality gaps are narrowing, international buyers continue to scrutinize long-term reliability.

As the electric trucking sector evolves, Chinese manufacturers must navigate complex trade relationships while addressing technical challenges and quality perceptions. Their success in transferring passenger EV advantages to the commercial sector will likely depend on maintaining cost competitiveness while meeting increasingly stringent international performance standards.

This transformation of commercial transport comes at a critical time, as heavy-duty trucks represent one of the more challenging segments for emissions reduction. The IEA maintains an optimistic outlook for wider adoption over the next decade, driven by policy initiatives and technological advancement, even as manufacturers work to balance range, payload capacity, and charging infrastructure requirements.