Chinese Electric Truckmakers Eyeing Europe

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Europe may not be perfect, but it’s focused much more than most other places on lowering its CO2 emissions. That includes electrifying transport. While passenger cars get most of the attention in that regard, heavy-duty trucking causes a huge amount of emissions as well and is in desperate need of electrification. It’s a bit behind the passenger car segment in this regard, since heavy-duty trucks are much heavier and travel long distances at high speeds routinely — all three of those things make it harder to adequately and cost-competitively electrify. However, EV battery technology keeps marching forward, and the truck sector is basically just a few years behind the car sector. It’s ripe for electrification.

China has been electrifying its trucks quite rapidly. Like cars and buses, it has been far ahead of the rest of the world. Now, like with cars and buses, leaders in the market are looking to take their business around the world more broadly, especially to Europe. Electric truck sales were 4.2% of overall heavy-duty truck sales in the European Union last year, a strong increase from the 2.3% share of 2024, but that’s still just 4.2%. The market is dominated by diesel truck sales. With significant growth in 2025, though, it seems the time is ripe for more players to enter the market and keep that growth going.

More than 6 Chinese electric heavy-duty truck makers are planning to enter the European market this year, according to Reuters. That includes BYD, Farizon (the commercial vehicle brand of Geely), Windrose Technology, and SuperPanther.

“The latest push reflects efforts by Chinese electric truckmakers to leverage their domestic strengths in cost, supply chains and product performance in Europe,” China Daily writes. Electric freight trucks accounted for 4.2% of total truck sales in the European Union in 2025, up from 2.3% in 2024, though diesel models still dominate the market.

“Industry executives said that some Chinese entrants could price electric heavy-duty trucks up to 30 percent below the European average of about 320,000 euros.” That’ll bring sales and market share up. In China, by the way, zero-emissions trucks account for 29% of overall heavy-duty truck sales. Higher volumes have led to lower costs, which have driven more sales. Those lower costs could now boost the market in Europe.

Zhang Xiang, a fellow at the Research Center of Automobile Industry Innovation of the North China University of Technology, says China has built a relatively complete industry chain in batteries, motors and electronic control systems, providing a foundation for both cost control and product development. Count that as another case of China driving down cleantech costs and accelerating the transition.

That said, note that at least some of these companies are looking to manufacturer their electric buses in Europe. “BYD plans to produce trucks at its bus factory in Hungary, while Windrose plans to assemble electric trucks in Belgium and establish research, development and after-sales functions there. Other Chinese brands are pursuing contract manufacturing and service network partnerships in countries including Austria and Germany to improve local support and service coverage.”