Chinese manufacturers of electric heavy-duty trucks are accelerating expansion into Europe’s market, supported by competitive pricing and advanced electrification technologies. More than six Chinese manufacturers are planning to launch electric heavy-duty truck sales in Europe in 2026, ranging from established players such as BYD and Farizon, Geely’s commercial vehicle brand, to startups including Windrose Technology and SuperPanther. The latest push reflects efforts by Chinese electric truck makers to leverage their domestic strengths in cost, supply chains and product performance in Europe. 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.
Prices remain a major barrier to wider adoption, with electric trucks costing about three times as much as the €100,000 average for a diesel truck. “Europe’s electric heavy-duty truck market is still in an early stage of development, with limited scale and a slow pace of commercialization. In a segment where costs fall only as volumes rise, that has kept prices high and slowed wider adoption,” said Zhang Xiang, Fellow at the Research Center of Automobile Industry Innovation of the North China University of Technology. This dynamic has created an opening for Chinese manufacturers, who could price electric heavy-duty trucks up to 30% below the European average of about €320,000. In the Chinese market, zero-emission heavy-duty trucks account for 29% of sales. Zhang said 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. He added that Chinese electric heavy-duty trucks are showing competitiveness in range, safety and overall performance.
One example is Windrose’s E700 electric truck, which has drawn interest in Europe with its 670-kilometer driving range and a 35-minute charging time. A Belgian logistics firm awaiting delivery of Windrose trucks said the charging speed is more than twice that of most electric trucks currently available in Europe, and described China’s technological advantage in the segment as being about three years ahead of European rivals. Development efficiency is another strength. Phil Dunne, Managing Director at strategy consultancy Grant Thornton Stax, said the typical global development cycle for an electric truck is about seven years. By comparison, Windrose took three years to develop the E700 and secure regulatory approval in China, Europe and the United States. Windrose plans to assemble electric trucks in Belgium and establish research, development and after-sales functions there, the China Daily reports.
