Blog

Changchun Zhiyuan New Energy Equipment Co., Ltd. — In February, sales of China VI‑compliant diesel heavy trucks doubled! Tractor-trailers once again exceeded 10,000 units, with SANY in sixth place and Dayun among the top eight. Who will take the crown? | Headline

[Summary Description] Introduction: This article is reprinted from the First Commercial Vehicle Network by Changchun Zhiyuan New Energy Equipment Co., Ltd.

Release Date:

2022-03-31

[Summary Description] Introduction: This article is… Changchun Zhiyuan New Energy Equipment Co., Ltd. Reposted from an article on the First Commercial Vehicle Network.

In the second half of 2021, China’s heavy-truck industry entered the “full‑scale China VI” era, with China VI–compliant diesel heavy trucks posting an average monthly growth rate of 152% over those six months, charging into 2022 with strong momentum. In January 2022, the market for China VI–compliant diesel heavy trucks maintained last year’s upward trajectory, recording a year-on-year increase of 113% right from the start of the year.

Changchun Zhiyuan New Energy Equipment Co., Ltd. We invite you to continue browsing.

In February, will the strong performance of China VI‑compliant diesel heavy trucks persist? And in this increasingly competitive niche segment, are there any new shifts in the industry landscape?

Please see the analysis report brought to you by First Commercial Vehicle Network.

February retail sales reached 26,000 units, a year-on-year surge of 200%, as new heavy-duty trucks have now fully transitioned to China VI standards.

According to end‑user sales data compiled by the First Commercial Vehicle Network—based on compulsory traffic insurance registrations and excluding exports and military vehicles—domestic sales of China VI‑compliant heavy‑duty diesel trucks totaled 26,000 units in February this year, up 5% month over month and more than 1,300 units higher than January’s registration volume. Year over year, sales surged by 200%, roughly tripling last year’s February level. Since the second half of last year, when the heavy‑truck sector fully transitioned to China VI standards, average monthly sales of China VI‑compliant heavy‑duty diesel trucks have hovered around 25,500 units; in the first two months of this year, the average stood at 25,400 units, essentially holding steady at that level. It is important to note, however, that this sharp increase does not reflect a genuine recovery in end‑market demand but rather stems from the regulatory transition and a low comparison base.

Changchun Zhiyuan New Energy Equipment Co., Ltd. We invite you to continue browsing.

Since the second quarter of last year, the heavy‑truck market has remained sluggish overall, yet end‑user sales of China VI‑compliant diesel heavy trucks have stayed relatively stable. After surpassing 20,000 units in August 2021, monthly sales have consistently exceeded that threshold; as of February this year, sales have remained above 20,000 units for seven consecutive months. The chart above clearly illustrates the increasingly favorable trend in the China VI diesel heavy‑truck segment.

Changchun Zhiyuan New Energy Equipment Co., Ltd. We invite you to continue browsing.

In February, coinciding with the Spring Festival holiday and amid the pandemic’s spread across many regions, overall heavy‑truck sales continued to decline, with end‑user deliveries totaling just 31,000 units. During the month, China VI‑compliant diesel heavy trucks accounted for 83.4% of total heavy‑truck sales—marking the second consecutive month that this share has exceeded 80%. If natural‑gas heavy trucks meeting China VI standards are included, the share of China VI models in the heavy‑truck market surged to over 90%, reaching 92.5%. This trend underscores that the “inventory of China V‑compliant vehicles” is exerting diminishing influence on the heavy‑truck market, while China VI‑compliant models now account for nearly the same volume as overall heavy‑truck sales. From a new‑vehicle sales perspective, China’s heavy‑truck sector has essentially achieved full compliance with the China VI emission standard.

As shown in the table above, the leading group in the China VI diesel tractor‑trailer segment is identical to that in the China VI diesel heavy‑truck market, though the rankings differ slightly. FAW leads the China VI diesel tractor‑trailer segment, with 3,020 units sold in February—up 124% year over year—and a monthly market share of 29.04%. Sinotruk ranks second, selling 2,002 China VI diesel tractors in February, a 243% year‑over‑year increase, for a 19.25% market share. Foton, Dongfeng, and Shaanxi Auto reported sales of 1,805, 1,766, and 1,142 units, respectively, capturing 17.36%, 16.98%, and 10.98% of the market, making them the three other manufacturers with monthly shares exceeding 10%. Together, the top five players accounted for 93.62% of the market in February—up from 91.65% in January—while all firms ranked below fifth held less than 2% each. The industry’s top five continue to lead by a substantial margin.

In terms of cumulative sales, China VI‑compliant diesel tractor units recorded 18,900 units sold in January–February this year, up 194% year over year. Looking at individual manufacturers, nearly all reported substantial growth. The top five players—FAW, SINOTRUK, Dongfeng, Foton, and Shaanxi Auto—accounted for 27.19%, 21.02%, 16.71%, 16.04%, and 11.78% of the market, respectively. Together, these five companies captured 92.73% of the China VI‑compliant diesel tractor‑unit market during the first two months of the year. Whether measured by monthly performance or cumulative sales, the leading group of the top five firms maintains a significant lead over the追赶者 (chasing pack) behind them.

Throughout 2021, the rankings from sixth to tenth in the China VI diesel tractor‑truck segment were claimed by SANY Group, Dayun Heavy Truck, SAIC Hongyan, Beiben Heavy-Duty Truck, and JAC Motors, respectively. In January–February this year, SANY, Dayun, and Hongyan maintained their positions, while JAC moved up one spot to ninth. XCMG Heavy Truck, which had not appeared in the top ten at year’s end last year, also broke into the ranks. Amid these shifts—some companies advancing, others falling—others were squeezed out of the top ten. As with the China VI diesel heavy‑truck market, the landscape for China VI diesel tractors is similarly characterized by a stable leading group and a highly dynamic trailing pack: January followed this pattern, February did as well, and March may yet bring a different story.

In the first two months of this year, the China VI‑compliant diesel heavy‑truck market maintained last year’s strong momentum, with the industry posting robust growth. All major manufacturers reported increases, often substantial or even explosive, delivering an exceptionally strong start to the year. From January to February, China VI diesel heavy trucks accounted for 82.23% of total heavy‑truck sales at the retail level. Given that this share is virtually irreversible—unless natural‑gas and new‑energy heavy trucks see a sharp rise in market share in the near term—the trend of continued year‑on‑year growth in the China VI diesel heavy‑truck segment is set to persist. In March, can this firmly growing China VI diesel heavy‑truck market break last November’s sales record of 30,000 units?

Changchun Zhiyuan New Energy Equipment Co., Ltd. We will continue to republish articles from First Commercial Vehicle Network for your perusal.

Changchun Zhiyuan New Energy Equipment Co., Ltd.

Suzhou Zhibang participated in the集中开工 ceremony for LNG vessel construction in Guigang, Guangxi, as well as the technical exchange event on the application of new-energy vessels.

Firing the “first shot” of the year in the northern market! Which automaker’s automatic‑transmission heavy truck is set to hit the market?

Related Information