Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturer Sinotruk has launched truck production at its Steyr Automotive facility in Steyr, Austria. The project is being implemented under a contract manufacturing agreement, the launch of which was announced on March 3. The first truck was assembled on the day of the launch. The Austrian plant plans to manufacture various truck models – both diesel and fully electric – targeted for markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Initially, assembly will be carried out using SKD (Semi-Knocked Down) technology, where pre-assembled modules are delivered to the facility and then fully assembled on-site. As production volumes increase, the company plans to transition to CKD (Completely Knocked Down), which involves greater localization, including cabin manufacturing and painting in Austria. Steyr Automotive also stated that as production expands, the number of employees will gradually increase.
The launch of Sinotruk production is part of a broader trend of Chinese truck manufacturers strengthening their presence in the European market. The company, part of the China National Heavy Duty Truck Group, has long been utilizing European technology: back in 1983, the Steyr 91 series truck technology was transferred to China, subsequently forming the basis for the manufacturer’s own models. The move to Austria is seen as a new step in expanding Sinotruk’s presence in international commercial vehicle markets and the global logistics industry.