China’s New Energy Heavy Truck Sales Surge 78.6% in H1 2026

China’s new energy heavy truck market accelerated sharply in the first half of 2026, with cumulative sales reaching approximately 140,000 units — a year-on-year increase of 78.6%, according to data released by the Ministry of Transport and reported by People Daily. The surge, driven by a potent combination of government subsidies, regulatory mandates, and expanding charging infrastructure, signals that commercial vehicle electrification in the world’s largest auto market is entering a new phase of rapid adoption.

Context

New energy heavy trucks — defined as battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 12 tonnes or more — have emerged as a critical frontier in China’s decarbonization strategy. While passenger electric vehicle adoption has soared over the past decade, the electrification of heavy-duty trucks has lagged due to challenges around battery range, payload capacity, and charging infrastructure. That is now changing rapidly. Full-year sales surged 182% in 2025, and the first half of 2026 has maintained that explosive trajectory.

Speaking at a State Council press conference on July 21, Cai Tuanjie, Director of the Transport Service Department at the Ministry of Transport, declared that “new energy heavy trucks have entered a new stage of rapid popularization and application,” as reported by financial platform Xueqiu.

Policy-Driven Acceleration

The primary catalyst behind the sales boom is unprecedented government support. In 2026, Beijing allocated 220 billion yuan (approximately $30 billion) in ultra-long-term special government bonds specifically for scrapping and replacing old diesel trucks, with priority given to new energy models. The program builds on the “Two News” consumption stimulus framework. In May 2026, 11 central government departments jointly issued the “Implementation Plan for Promoting Large-Scale Application of New Energy Heavy Trucks,” setting ambitious targets: a 40% penetration rate and 1.6 million units in stock by 2030.

To support the growing fleet, China plans to construct 30,000 kilometers of zero-carbon road transport corridors along the national expressway network and build more than 3,000 electric heavy truck charging and battery-swapping stations. Key focus regions include the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, the Yangtze River Delta, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Chengdu-Chongqing economic zone.

Manufacturer Rankings and Market Dynamics

The competitive landscape is shifting rapidly. According to data from the First Commercial Vehicle Network, the top four manufacturers now command nearly 60% of the market:

• Sinotruk led the market with approximately 20,000 units sold and a 15.7% share, posting 121–135% year-on-year growth — the highest among the top players.
• Sany Group followed with around 20,000 units (14.7% share), also exporting a record 883 electric trucks in June 2026 — the largest single export of Chinese new energy tractors.
• XCMG Auto sold approximately 17,000–22,000 units (15.5% share), showing a 70% increase.
• FAW Jiefang placed fourth with around 17,000 units (12.3% share) and recorded a staggering net profit surge of 1,273–1,528% year-on-year.

Notable growth surprises include Union Heavy Truck, a Chery and CIMC joint venture, which saw sales jump 397%, and Geely’s commercial vehicle brand Yuan Cheng, which grew 103%. Overall, as 163.com reported, June 2026 monthly sales reached 32,500 units, more than doubling year-on-year.

Technology Breakthroughs and Supply Chain Ripples

Beyond sales figures, the sector is seeing important technological advances. FAW Jiefang completed full-condition system testing of a sodium-ion battery heavy truck in June 2026 — a 339 kWh pack that maintains over 90% usable charge at -40°C and offers more than 8,000 cycle life under fast charging. Sodium-ion technology, which is cheaper and more temperature-resilient than lithium-ion, could significantly lower the total cost of ownership for fleet operators in cold-climate regions.

The boom is also benefiting the broader supply chain. Teld, a leading charging network operator, reported that its heavy truck charging business secured 5.6 billion yuan in contracts during the first half of 2026, up 60% year-on-year, and has built over 4,100 heavy truck charging stations with more than 53,000 terminals nationwide. CATL’s battery-swapping network, Qiji, now operates over 300 stations across 26 provinces.

What’s Next

China’s new energy heavy truck market is entering a critical transition from policy-led adoption to market-driven growth. The combination of generous scrappage subsidies, binding penetration targets, and rapid infrastructure deployment creates a powerful demand ecosystem. Key questions remain: whether the 3,000-station infrastructure target will keep pace with fleet growth; whether battery-swapping and fast-charging standards will converge; and whether high growth rates can be sustained as subsidies gradually phase down.

For now, the trajectory is clear. With 140,000 units sold in just six months and accelerating policy tailwinds, new energy heavy trucks are no longer a niche experiment — they are becoming a mainstream pillar of China’s transportation and decarbonization strategy.