Sinotruk expands product range to benefit from CPEC

Chinese truckmaker introduces six new models with Euro-3 engine technology, LPG fuel option

LAHORE: Sinotruk, a sister company of state-owned China National Heavy Duty Truck Group, has expanded its product range for Pakistan’s market in a bid to take maximum benefit of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and similar project investments.

In this regard, the company recently rolled out six new vehicle variants equipped with Euro-3 engine technology besides having the option of consuming liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a third fuel.

Sinotruk - a truck manufacturer - has maintained its presence in Pakistan since 2013. Its local partner is Dysin Automobiles which acts as its distributor in the country.

Prior to rolling out new models, the two companies have launched seven heavy-duty commercial variants since 2013 while working as joint-venture partners.

According to officials, roughly 5,000 vehicles of Sinotruk are currently running in the country. Following the addition of new variants, the company’s total product range for Pakistan has swelled to 13 models. The decision to launch the new variants came after the management noted that the country’s landscape was transforming under CPEC in terms of motorways, high-speed roads, etc.

“This is a new era for Pakistan’s truck and allied industry which is opposite of the traditional truck industry,” commented Dysin Automobiles General Manager Sales and Marketing Tanzeel Khan while talking to The Express Tribune.

Sharing that the company enjoyed a wide product range, he disclosed that several new variants were in the pipeline for Pakistan which would modernise the country’s truck industry.

“We have faced some serious challenges in the past because people preferred scrapped or used trucks from abroad, but now the government has imposed restriction on this,” he said, voicing hope that annual demand for heavy commercial vehicles would now rise significantly.

The general manager revealed that in past years, the annual demand for trucks was nearly 10,000 units.

Though the parent company China National Heavy Duty Truck Group is controlled by the Chinese government, Germany’s MAN group has almost 25% stake in it.

A spokesperson for Sinotruk said out of every two units sold in China, one was of China National Heavy Duty Truck Group.

“We are the biggest Chinese commercial vehicle company possessing technological expertise of the MAN group,” he pointed out. “Apart from China, we enjoy a huge advantage in export markets which has enhanced our market share to 50% in the past three years.”

Globally, the company has presence in 100 markets and its export volume touched 35,000 units in 2018.

In Pakistan, the company is expected to raise its sales volume on the back of initiatives taken under CPEC.

According to the local partner, it was not just CPEC which will fuel demand for heavy commercial vehicles, but also investment initiatives from Saudi Arabia, Gulf states, Russia and other countries.

Khan was of the view that the company’s products were price-competitive compared to Japanese manufacturers.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2019.

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