In the first half of 2025, China’s heavy-duty truck market reached a critical turning point after a cyclical adjustment. The latest data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) shows that cumulative sales of heavy-duty trucks from January to June reached 539,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 6.9%, sending a positive signal of industry recovery. More notably, the penetration rate of new energy heavy-duty trucks exceeded the 20% mark for the first time, indicating that this sector, traditionally dominated by fuel-powered vehicles, has officially entered the “deep waters” of electrification transformation.
In this race of shifting from old to new growth drivers, the performance of the traditional “Big Five” heavy-duty truck manufacturers – FAW trucks, Dongfeng trucks, Sinotruk, Shaanxi Automobile Group, and BAIC Foton – has attracted particular attention. Facing multiple challenges from policy-driven changes, technological iterations, and market demand shifts, the gap between leading enterprises has widened: some have accelerated ahead with first-mover technological advantages, while others have shown signs of fatigue in the transformation. Who is “stepping on the gas” in the new energy track, and who is at risk of falling behind due to slow progress? This battle to reshape the industry landscape is becoming clearer with the release of the first-half data.
Mid-Year Report Card of the Big Five Heavy-Duty Truck Makers: Foton Leads in Overall Growth, Dongfeng Takes the “Lead Jersey” in New Energy, and Divergence Among Traditional Players Intensifies
In the first half of 2025, China’s heavy-duty truck market delivered a fascinating report amid the dual rhythms of recovery and transformation. The traditional Big Five – FAW, Dongfeng, Sinotruk, Shaanxi Automobile, and Foton – showed varying performances in overall growth, new energy, and the core tractor truck market, with the market structure accelerating its reshaping.
- Total Growth: Foton “Sprints Forward,” Traditional Top Three Grow Modestly
In terms of sales volume, Foton Heavy-Duty Trucks emerged as the biggest dark horse, with cumulative sales surging 74.3% year-on-year in the first half, and a stunning 116.3% growth in June alone, demonstrating strong market expansion. In contrast, Faw’s first-half sales declined slightly year-on-year; Dongfeng, Sinotruk, and Shaanxi Automobile achieved small growth but with rates below 10%. The growth momentum of traditional leading enterprises was significantly weaker than that of Foton.
- New Energy Track: Dongfeng “Leads by a Mile,” Faw Follows Closely
In the new energy heavy-duty truck sector, which will determine future market power, Dongfeng took a dominant lead with a cumulative year-on-year growth of 609.6% from January to June, and a 606.3% increase in June alone, making it the fastest-growing traditional powerhouse in the new energy race. Jiefang ranked second with a cumulative growth of 467.0%, while Foton and Shaanxi Automobile both exceeded 300% growth. Sinotruk, however, lagged slightly with 225.7% growth. The track has initially formed a dual-lead pattern of “Dongfeng + Jiefang,” and other enterprises need to accelerate their catch-up.
- Tractor Truck Market: Foton Takes the Crown Again, Jiefang Drags Behind
As the “decisive battle” of the heavy-duty truck market, tractor truck sales directly reflect an enterprise’s core competitiveness. In the first half, Foton’s tractor truck sales grew 47.1% cumulatively, far exceeding the industry average of 1.7%. Sinotruk, Shaanxi Automobile, and Dongfeng achieved small growth, while Jiefang fell 12.2% year-on-year, becoming the only one of the Big Five with negative growth. If it fails to stop the decline and rebound in the tractor truck market, Jiefang’s industry position may be challenged.
The competitive landscape of China’s heavy-duty truck market accelerated its divergence in the first half of 2025. The key to future success will focus on the dual dimensions of “electrification + segmented markets”:
- Foton has become a phased winner with all-round high growth in total volume, tractors, and new energy, but it needs to be wary of the gap with Dongfeng in the new energy sector.
- Dongfeng currently leads in the new energy market; if it can convert this into scale, it may reshape the industry structure.
- Jiefang, despite a strong performance in new energy, is dragged down by the sluggish tractor market and faces severe transformation pressure.
- Sinotruk and Shaanxi Automobile, with modest growth, urgently need to find breakthroughs in electrification and segmented markets to avoid marginalization.
As the industry enters a new phase of “stock competition + electrification upgrading,” the competition among the Big Five has evolved from scale expansion to a three-dimensional contest of technology, segmented markets, and ecological integration. In the second half of 2025, whether each brand can consolidate its advantages while addressing weaknesses may directly determine the market structure for the next decade.
| Enterprise | June Sales YoY Growth | Jan-Jun Cumulative Sales YoY Growth | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Tractor | New Energy | Overall | Tractor | New Energy | |
| FAW Jiefang | 53.0% | 43.9% | 327.9% | -7.2% | -12.2% | 467.0% |
| Dongfeng trucks | 45.6% | 21.2% | 606.3% | 3.8% | 2.0% | 609.6% |
| Sinotruk | 29.6% | 29.3% | 170.8% | 6.8% | 4.7% | 225.7% |
| Shaanxi Auto | 29.5% | 35.3% | 324.2% | 10.9% | 9.0% | 325.4% |
| BAIC Foton | 116.3% | 68.6% | 374.9% | 74.3% | 47.1% | 343.6% |
Data Source: New energy data is based on insurance registration; others are from CAAM sales data.
Why Could Foton Heavy-Duty Trucks Lead Against the Trend? What Insights Can Its Growth Momentum Offer for High-Quality Transformation in the Industry?
Against the backdrop of a slow recovery in the heavy-duty truck market in the first half of 2025, the industry as a whole remains in a stalemate of stock competition. In sharp contrast to most automakers struggling to maintain market share, Foton Heavy-Duty Trucks surged ahead with a 74.3% cumulative sales growth, becoming the only traditional Big Five enterprise to achieve leapfrog growth. A deeper analysis of its development path reveals that Foton’s success is no accident but the result of the synergistic effect of four core drivers.
Driver 1: Scenario-Driven Technological and Product Innovation
The underlying logic behind Foton’s counter-trend growth lies in its precise R&D strategy of “aligning technical routes with scenario needs.” In 2025, the company built a full-scenario product matrix integrating traditional energy and new energy:
- In traditional energy, the Auman Galaxy 3, launched for medium- and short-haul efficient transportation, achieved a 17% performance improvement through the Super Power Chain 5.0, combined with intelligent torque control and lightweight design to significantly reduce operating costs.
- For gas-powered vehicle users, the Auman Galaxy 630, equipped with the Foton Cummins Natural Gas 5.0 engine, consumes 3-5% less gas than competitors. Coupled with a power chain with a transmission efficiency of up to 99.7%, it established a TCO advantage in the heavy-load transportation market.
In new energy, Foton adopted a three-pronged approach:
- Pure electric models with 400/600kWh batteries and battery-swapping versions targeting short-haul scenarios such as ports and steel mills.
- Hybrid models verified to achieve 16-26% fuel savings in trunk-line logistics.
- Hydrogen fuel models with a self-developed 300kW engine and 500km range, becoming the preferred choice for green transformation in high-emission industries.
This scenario-oriented technological innovation is key to Foton’s success in stock market competition.
Driver 2: Ecosystem-Collaborative New Energy Development Model
Foton’s new energy heavy-duty truck sales soared 301% year-on-year, thanks to its “technology + ecosystem” dual-drive innovation model. The company addressed industry pain points through three major initiatives:
- Innovating business models: In May, it established a joint venture with EVE Energy to launch battery leasing programs, reducing the purchase threshold for users.
- Improving energy replenishment networks: It partnered with TELD to build charging stations and collaborated with Huawei to develop megawatt-level ultra-fast charging systems.
- Precise scenario implementation: For example, in Tangshan, it launched 600kWh long-range models with local subsidies to meet steel transportation needs; in Yantian Port, it delivered batch battery-swapping tractors to support green port transformation.
This systematic solution, from technological breakthroughs to ecosystem collaboration, became the core driver of Foton’s high-speed growth in new energy heavy-duty trucks.
Driver 3: Deeply Localized Global Layout
Foton expanded its overseas footprint through the “full-value-chain ecosystem globalization” strategy, opening up new growth space with in-depth localized operations. In 2025, the company achieved a series of breakthroughs in global layout:
- Southeast Asia: The Thai factory rolled off its 2,000th heavy-duty truck.
- Americas: The Brazilian factory produced its first localized model and obtained ISO9001 certification.
- Africa: The South African factory completed production of its first heavy-duty truck.
Currently, Foton has built 32 local factories and over 2,000 service outlets worldwide, covering more than 130 countries and regions. It has ranked first in Chinese commercial vehicle exports for 14 consecutive years, marking a new stage in its international development.
Driver 4: Innovation-Led Marketing and Service System
Foton continued to release growth momentum through innovative marketing and service upgrades:
- In brand promotion, the “Auman Galaxy Global Value Journey” launched in February 2025 showcased product performance through a 7,800-kilometer cross-border journey, attracting hundreds of millions of views. The “Hundred Cities, Thousand Stores” regional promotion campaign repeatedly secured bulk orders in core logistics markets, verifying effective market penetration.
- In service guarantees, the company introduced industry-leading 3-year full-machine warranty and ten major service commitments. It also actively responded to national policies by offering up to 125,000 yuan in trade-in subsidies, effectively addressing user concerns and stimulating replacement demand.
These innovative measures provided sustained momentum for Foton’s market expansion.
Foton’s counter-trend growth offers four insights for industry transformation:
- Scenario-oriented technological innovation is the core of product competitiveness; enterprises must accurately match the differentiated needs of different operating scenarios.
- New energy transformation must build a “technology + ecosystem” dual-drive model, addressing user pain points through business model innovation.
- International expansion requires deep localized cultivation and establishing a complete overseas value chain system.
- Marketing and service innovation should integrate online and offline channels, strengthening brand awareness through experiential marketing and enhancing user loyalty with value-added services.
These four dimensions collectively form a breakthrough path for heavy-duty truck enterprises in the new cycle, worthy of industry reference.
