ZHUCHENG, China, September 24, 2026 — China's electric heavy trucks have become an export business, and the axle is the part that decides whether they hold up abroad.
The export numbers. BloombergNEF's Zero-Emission Commercial Vehicles: 2026 Factbook for Investors, released September 17 with Smart Freight Centre and Traton SE, found global medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission truck sales up 75% year on year in H1 2026 and on track to pass 9% of global truck sales this year. Chinese makers exported about 2,000 battery-electric heavy tractors in the half. Sany told Securities Daily on September 18 that overseas new-energy tractor exports rose more than 800% in January–August.
The domestic engine behind it. Sinotruk reported on September 18 that first-half revenue reached RMB 149.6 billion, up 42%, with heavy truck sales up 40.3% to 196,000 and new-energy heavy trucks up 141.3% to 25,000. China's 2026 scrappage programme pays up to RMB 140,000 (about USD 20,800) to swap an older truck for an electric one.
Why the axle spec changes on export. A 4x2 tractor bound for a South African mine or a Central Asian winter rarely fails at the motor. It fails at the front axle, which now carries battery mass over roads the truck was never designed for, and at the drive axle or e-axle, which must deliver torque with no dealer workshop nearby. Export buyers therefore specify load rating, sealing, lubricant grade and service interval in kilometres, not peak power.
Where Yihe Axle stands. Zhucheng Yihe Axle Co., Ltd. builds front axles and drive axles on established stamping, welding, machining and assembly lines, and supplies new-energy axle assemblies to domestic and export customers. A commercial vehicle axle is a load-bearing part before it is a driveline part: get the beam, housing and wheel end right and electrification follows.
The takeaway. As Chinese electric trucks move into Africa, Southeast Asia and Europe, axle durability under local load, road and service conditions, not peak motor power, will decide which exporters win repeat orders.
