Chinese Truck Makers Go Local: SINOTRUK Rolls Off 10,000th CKD Vehicle in Malaysia
From Exports to Local Assembly: A Milestone in Malaysia
On July 27, 2026, SINOTRUK celebrated the roll-off of its 10,000th CKD (Completely Knocked Down) vehicle at its partner's assembly plant in Malaysia. Hu Haihua, Vice President of Shandong Heavy Industry Group, attended the ceremony together with SINOTRUK executives, local partners and industry guests, witnessing a landmark in the company's overseas development.
The cooperation between SINOTRUK and its Malaysian partner dates back 15 years. Over that period, reliable products, competitive operating costs and strong service support have steadily expanded the brand's footprint across Southeast Asia.
Three Trends Shaping China's Truck Exports Right Now
1. Localized CKD/SKD Assembly Replaces Pure Finished-Truck Shipments
Beyond Malaysia - where SINOTRUK delivered its first locally assembled truck in the Philippines in late 2025 - Chinese OEMs are increasingly building CKD plants in high-volume markets to reduce import duties, shorten delivery times and localize after-sales parts supply. For importers, this means better landed costs and faster access to spare parts.
2. New-Energy and Gas-Powered Trucks Are Going Global Fast
China's new-energy tractor truck sales jumped 97% to 25,000 units in June 2026, according to industry statistics. Natural-gas models are also winning overseas orders - Dongfeng Cummins, for example, delivered the first 56 gas-powered waste trucks to Brazil in early August. Fuel costs remain the single biggest operating expense for fleets, making CNG/LNG and electric trucks increasingly attractive in long-haul and urban applications.
3. Big-Ticket Orders Keep Flowing into ASEAN, Africa and Latin America
July saw FAW deliver 100 JH6 tractor trucks to a major Indonesian customer, while JMC shipped over 500 pickups to Ghana and Nigeria. China's heavy truck exports also surged in June as leading brands closed major orders worldwide, and H1 2026 tractor truck sales grew 23% to 235,400 units.
What This Means for Global Buyers
Buyer tip: when sourcing trucks for 2026-2027, evaluate three things: (1) the OEM's local assembly and parts network in your region, (2) fuel type - diesel, CNG/LNG or electric - against local energy prices and policy incentives, and (3) the exporter's full-chain service capability, from model selection and compliance to shipping and after-sales support.
TianCheng International Trade (Liangshan) Co., Ltd. exports HOWO, Shacman and Sitrak heavy-duty trucks to more than 100 countries. With factory-direct pricing from China's Liangshan truck industrial cluster, multi-language support and end-to-end logistics, we help importers build fleets that last - and parts supply that never stops.
Contact us for model availability, CNG/electric options and CKD cooperation opportunities in your market.
