China's Tractor Truck Market Expands in Early 2025 as New Energy Sales Surge

China’s tractor truck market grew 12% in the first four months of 2025, driven by robust gains in new energy vehicle (NEV) sales and continued dominance by leading brands such as FAW Jiefang and Sinotruk, according to industry data.

FAW Jiefang led the market in April with 8,142 units sold, followed by Sinotruk (6,597), Dongfeng (5,239), Foton (4,727), and Shaanxi Auto (4,684). These five companies accounted for more than 82% of total sales in the month, underscoring their strong foothold in the sector.

While the overall market grew just 2% year-over-year in April, individual company performance varied significantly. Nine of the top 12 manufacturers reported growth, with XCMG, SANY, Farizon, and United Heavy-Duty Truck posting the highest year-over-year gains—356%, 282%, 197%, and 251%, respectively.

Three companies recorded double-digit sales declines, with the sharpest drop reaching 21%.

In market share terms, the top 10 manufacturers controlled 97.24% of April’s sales. FAW Jiefang held the largest share at 22.81%, followed by Sinotruk (18.48%), Dongfeng (14.68%), Foton (13.24%), and Shaanxi Auto (13.12%).

From January to April, cumulative sales totaled 120,800 units, reflecting a 12% increase compared with the same period in 2024. Although the growth rate was slightly below the 17% increase seen in March, momentum remained strong. Only two of the top 10 companies saw sales decline during this period, with both posting single-digit drops.

XCMG, SANY, and Farizon continued to outperform the market, with sales rising by 258%, 193%, and 137%, respectively. Dongfeng, Shaanxi Auto, Foton, BAIC Heavy Truck, and JAC all reported above-average growth.

New energy tractors—comprising battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and hybrid models—emerged as a major growth driver. NEV sales rose 284% year-over-year in the first four months of 2025. Battery electric sales surged 296%, hydrogen fuel cell models grew 43%, and hybrid units increased 327%. Meanwhile, diesel and natural gas-powered vehicles saw declines of 11% and 12%, respectively.

As a result, NEVs accounted for 27.7% of all tractor truck sales in the January–April period, up from 17.43% in 2024 and outpacing the broader heavy truck segment’s NEV share of 20.74%.

All but one of the top 12 truck makers reported NEV sales during this period. XCMG (99.15%), SANY (98.69%), Farizon (76.09%), and JAC (85.78%) reported particularly high proportions of new energy models, indicating a significant shift in product strategy toward electrification.

The data suggests that fuel type transformation—particularly the rise of electric powertrains—is reshaping the competitive landscape of China’s tractor truck industry. With new energy adoption accelerating and natural gas vehicle sales declining, manufacturers are adjusting strategies to meet changing market demand.