After debuting in electric vans and medium-duty trucks, China is now preparing to break into the European heavy vehicle market. Leading the way will be Sany, which confirmed plans to start sales in the first quarter of 2026 of an electric road tractor, supported by a service network already in the making. The model is the Sany e263 4x2, offering a range of 500 kilometres, comparable with European competitors. The company has already entered the European market with an electric concrete mixer and is building up a service and spare parts distribution network.
Its market entry rests on two main pillars. One is the acquisition of German concrete pump manufacturer Putzmeister, purchased in 2012 for 360 million euros, which gave Sany industrial facilities in Bedburg and Aichtal as well as a strong local presence. The other is its partnership with Alltrucks, a pan-European workshop network founded by Bosch, Knorr-Bremse and ZF, which ensures access to more than 700 service centres across 13 countries, offering 24-hour technical support, telematics diagnostics and service contracts of up to ten years.
The e263 is backed by Sany’s extensive experience in electric mobility. The group already has more than 40,000 battery-electric commercial vehicles in operation worldwide and led the Chinese electric truck market between 2021 and 2024. The truck bound for Europe is equipped with a 636 kWh LFP battery on an 800-volt platform, delivering more than 500 kilometres of range at a gross weight of 42 tonnes. Its dual-motor electric axle produces 420 kW of continuous power and 730 kW at peak, with torque of up to 1,760 Nm.
The vehicle supports CCS charging up to 400 kW and is ready for the upcoming Megawatt Charging System. An unladen weight of 10.9 tonnes enhances payload capacity, while dimensions of 6.64 x 2.54 x 3.87 metres ensure compliance with European road standards. Three selectable power take-off systems – mPto at 45 kW, gPto at 210 kW and ePto for AC/DC applications – allow for versatile configurations, including refrigerated trailers.
The Sany e263 has been designed to meet European safety requirements, with advanced driver assistance systems aligned with the new GSR2 standards. Deliveries will start with the standard 4x2 tractor, followed by rigid chassis versions before the end of 2026. According to Kevin Eichele, head of product and business development for Sany eTrucks Europe, the new model represents an extension of the electric platforms already proven in the construction sector. The 408P Iontron electric mixer, developed with Putzmeister, is already in operation in Norway, Iceland, France, Spain and Germany, with a 180-kilometre range and a 350 kWh battery.
The Chinese manufacturer has not yet disclosed pricing for its electric road trucks, but maintains that the investment will be only slightly higher than that required for a comparable diesel model. This, it claims, will offer the best total cost of ownership among electric trucks available in Europe and a faster payback period. The strategy goes beyond vehicle sales, encompassing an ecosystem of services including spare parts managed by Putzmeister in Germany, 24/7 roadside assistance, telematics and remote diagnostics.
