With the heavy truck sales closing at 74,000 units in June, the commercial vehicle industry’s fierce competition in the first half of the year has temporarily come to an end. Unsurprisingly, due to the influence of national policies and the “double low” in gas prices and freight rates, gas vehicles have become one of the three main drivers pulling up overall sales. Notably, Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle has shone in the first half of 2024 with outstanding marketing capabilities, enhanced product competitiveness, and service marketing transformation, achieving impressive sales figures and demonstrating remarkable vitality and competitiveness, firmly occupying the top ranks in gas vehicle sales.
In the first quarter, Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle’s gas vehicle sales increased by 168% year-on-year, with cumulative sales close to 8,000 units, particularly notable in March, with a 300% year-on-year increase to nearly 4,000 units. This strong start not only laid a solid foundation for the annual sales target but also highlighted Dongfeng’s rapid rise in the new energy commercial vehicle field. As summer approached, the hot sales of Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle gas vehicles did not wane, with April and May sales both growing compared to the same period last year, and June sales reaching 2,400 units, marking a strong close for the second quarter.
In some key sales regions, Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle achieved remarkable results, with both sales and market share returning to industry-leading positions. For example, in the second quarter, Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle achieved gas vehicle sales of 1,130 units in the Ningxia region, raising its market share to 25.4%, a significant increase of 6.7% from the first quarter. According to statistics, Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle sold about 13,400 gas vehicles in the first half of 2024, further consolidating its advantageous position.
Enhancing Product Layout, Technological Innovation Drives Product Matrix Synergy
Against the backdrop of the nation’s vigorous promotion of new energy vehicle development, the market competition for switching from oil to gas in the commercial vehicle industry has become increasingly fierce. In the first half of 2024, Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle leveraged keen market insights to timely adjust and optimize its product structure, intensifying the research and promotion of gas vehicles. They also fully utilized government subsidies, tax incentives, and other policies to offer users more cost-effective purchase solutions, driving continuous growth in gas vehicle sales and showcasing the demeanor of an industry leader.
The relentless pursuit of reliable products is the driving force behind Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle’s market recognition. As early as the end of November 2023, Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle announced at the 2024 Partner Conference: based on market hotspots and in-depth research into customer needs, they would launch an all-scenario, all-coverage, all-new technology lineup of 2024 new products, totaling 206 new models. These cover four major domestic and international categories and 98 scenarios, significantly enhancing customer value and driving experience. Particularly in the gas vehicle market, Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle has demonstrated strong R&D capabilities and market insight. In the first half of the year, Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle launched a series of high-performance gas vehicles, enriching the product matrix and reflecting Dongfeng’s deep exploration of green, efficient, and intelligent transport solutions.
In the first half of the year, Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle successively launched new models such as the 580-horsepower King Edition Dongfeng Tianlong KX gas vehicle and the Dongfeng Longqing 3.0 gas vehicle, achieving new heights in energy conservation and emission reduction, as well as significant improvements in power performance and operational economy, meeting the high-efficiency operational requirements under different transport needs. Additionally, they held product promotion meetings and gas vehicle fuel-saving competitions in various locations such as Xuzhou, Tangshan, and Xinjiang, attracting user participation and evaluation through various activities, showcasing strong product confidence. Particularly on May 28, the Dongfeng Longqing 3.0 gas vehicle, the Dongfeng Tianlong KL DGi520, was officially launched at the North China logistics hub in Shijiazhuang. In just one month, the Dongfeng Longqing 3.0 gas vehicle secured large orders in Hubei, Henan, Shandong, Hebei, and Xinjiang, receiving widespread praise from the market and customers. On July 15, 460 Dongfeng Longqing 3.0 gas vehicles were delivered in bulk in Hami, Xinjiang, bringing the total number of vehicles delivered for the Xinjiang coal transportation project to over 2,000 units. This model, known as the “most profitable vehicle in the resource market,” has quickly captured the resource market, standing out as the most cost-effective gas vehicle in the first half of 2024.
Service First, Customer-Centric Strategic Layout
Everything starts from reliability, and service first “makes reliability go further.” This has become the strategic path firmly and increasingly implemented by Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle, rooted in the industry for over fifty years. Always focusing on “customer-centricity,” Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle personnel at the forefront of market sales have seemingly reached a consensus: excellent products are only half the success, and high-quality service is the key to maintaining customers and expanding the market. Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle not only provides personalized car purchase plans before sales but also offers a series of value-added services after sales, supported by a nationwide network of nearly a thousand service stations. They provide quick response, customized maintenance, and proactive predictive services, ensuring high-speed and worry-free vehicle operation, as evidenced by the frequent large-scale vehicle delivery events and product launch conferences held by Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle in 2024.
Especially in the hot-selling gas vehicle sector, Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle anticipates customer needs, delivering reliability in advance. For example, for the Dongfeng Longqing 3.0 gas vehicle, the aftermarket department has implemented three 100% service models—100% service plan formulation, 100% new vehicle preparation, and 100% post-sales training—to achieve “zero” failures in delivered vehicles and “zero” negative reviews in operating vehicles. Additionally, the aftermarket service marketing department, in collaboration with Dongfeng Longqing Power Co., Ltd. and regional dealers, formed service teams to visit customers in Henan, Hebei, Zhejiang, Sichuan, and other places, patiently explaining the eight major service commitments of new vehicles, meticulously conducting post-sales training, informing customers about gas cylinder usage specifications and economic driving techniques, and addressing customer concerns on-site. They also learned about vehicle operation routes, detailed the planning of along-the-way service plans, ensured parts reserves, and established “one customer, one group” for 100% customer linkage, ensuring worry-free vehicle use and operation.
As a “national team” in the commercial vehicle industry, Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle is committed to becoming a pioneer of China’s independent commercial vehicle brands, adhering to reliable products and services, and writing the powerful journey of an industry leader. Looking at the commercial vehicle industry, all major brands are striving to achieve their annual sales targets, and the competition will undoubtedly become more intense. Whether pushing forward in turbulent waters or steadily fighting for every market, we can expect Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle to bring us more surprises and expectations.
