Chinese companies that dominate the electric vehicle (EV) sector have been quietly cementing their position in the less-noticed trucking scene – but foreign tariffs and a perceived difference in quality could signal hurdles ahead, experts warn.
The domestic supply chain and low-cost strategy that have helped China's electric vehicle industry lead the world are being leveraged by established automakers and startups alike to transform trucking alike.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), electric trucks currently account for less than 1 percent of global truck sales – with China set to account for 70 percent of those sales in 2023.
However, the agency said it was “optimistic” that the policy and technological developments would see wider adoption over the next decade.
“I think this industry is ripe for change,” said Han Wen, the founder of the start-up Windrose, in a factory hall as the company’s first delivery vehicles were being assembled behind him.
Fleets of electric trucks from China are increasing internationally, despite Western countries imposing heavy sanctions on the country's electric vehicles.