SuperPanther, Steyr Automotive to Build Electric Trucks in Austria

Chinese electric truck manufacturer SuperPanther has signed a production agreement with Austria’s Steyr Automotive to manufacture battery-electric heavy-duty trucks in Europe, with the first model expected to roll off the assembly line by the end of 2025.

The agreement marks SuperPanther’s first manufacturing presence in Europe and represents a strategic move to expand its footprint in the region’s commercial vehicle market.

Steyr Automotive, headquartered in Steyr, Upper Austria, brings decades of experience in vehicle assembly and contract manufacturing. SuperPanther, based in China, specializes in high-performance electric drive systems. The two companies aim to meet the European Union’s tightening emission standards and the growing demand for low- and zero-emission trucks.

The collaboration follows a joint unveiling of the eTopas 600 at the 2024 IAA Transportation show in Hanover, Germany. The electric truck is equipped with a 621-kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate battery, providing a range of up to 500 kilometers. It also supports dual fast-charging ports capable of charging the battery from 20% to 80% in 38 minutes.

Road testing for the eTopas 600 is underway in both Central Europe and China to assess real-world performance and range.

In addition to the eTopas model, the companies are developing a new product line known as eEmerald, which will include three electric truck models with varying powertrains, ranges and cabin configurations. The two firms signed a letter of intent with DHL in 2024 to explore further cooperation, though no details have been finalized.

“We will leverage our manufacturing expertise to help bring SuperPanther’s electric truck technologies to the European market,” said Manfred Eibeck, vice chairman of Steyr Automotive, during the signing ceremony.

Michael Ruf, president of SuperPanther Europe, said the partnership supports the company’s goal of accelerating the global shift toward low-emission commercial transport. “Steyr’s experience in assembly, testing and vehicle integration is an ideal fit for our development strategy,” he said.

Separately, Steyr Automotive is expanding its other business units. Its plastic parts painting division plans to hire 80 additional employees. Its municipal vehicle subsidiary M-U-T, acquired in 2023, continues to see steady demand for its sanitation and street-cleaning vehicle systems.

M-U-T was founded in 1932 and is based in Stockerau, Lower Austria.

The SuperPanther-Steyr partnership reflects growing industrial collaboration between China and Europe in the electric vehicle sector, as manufacturers seek to meet new emissions regulations and contribute to the decarbonization of transport.

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