Entering 2026, looking back at 2025, the heavy-duty truck market delivered a remarkable performance: a continuous rebound starting in April led to a high-level operation at the end of the year. By November, the market had achieved eight consecutive months of growth, with cumulative sales exceeding one million units; the growth momentum continued in December, and the annual sales finally surpassed the 1.1 million unit mark, reaching a new high in the past four years—1.137 million units, a year-on-year increase of approximately 26%.
2025 Heavy-Duty Truck Market Cumulative Sales Exceed 1.13 Million Units
According to data from First Commercial Vehicle Network, in December 2025, the wholesale sales volume of heavy-duty trucks in my country was approximately 95,000 units (including exports and new energy vehicles), a decrease of 16% compared to November, but still an increase of 13% year-on-year. Throughout the year, it achieved nine consecutive months of growth, from April to December, with an average growth rate as high as 41%!
The year-on-year growth rate of heavy-duty truck sales narrowed sharply in December, mainly due to two factors. Firstly, the base figure for the same period last year was relatively high. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the policy of replacing old National III emission standard trucks with new ones boosted sales to 84,200 units. Secondly, most mainstream heavy-duty truck manufacturers achieved their annual sales targets relatively well, and some manufacturers chose to "hide sales" by postponing some wholesale orders to the first quarter of 2026 to ensure a strong start. Even with a narrowing growth rate, the nine-year consecutive increase still demonstrates the strong resilience of the heavy-duty truck industry.
Driven by the high prosperity of the overall vehicle market, sub-sectors also strengthened, with concrete mixer trucks performing particularly well. As core equipment for engineering construction, the concrete mixer truck market continued to benefit from two core drivers in 2025: on the one hand, the expansion of the policy of replacing old National III and National IV emission standard trucks with new ones led to a concentrated release of demand for the scrapping and replacement of old concrete mixer trucks; on the other hand, the steady progress of domestic infrastructure investment and the expansion of new urbanization and new energy projects brought stable demand. This growth logic will continue in 2026, with the two departments clearly stating that they will continue to support the scrapping and replacement of old commercial trucks in 2026, and will prioritize the replacement with electric trucks.
New Energy Vehicles and Exports Rise Together: Two Major Growth Drivers in the Heavy Truck Market
New Energy Heavy Trucks
2025 was a year of leaps and bounds for the new energy heavy truck market. In December alone, driven by the expiration of the trade-in policy and the advance purchase effect resulting from the halving of the purchase tax on new energy vehicles starting January 1, 2026, terminal sales exploded, exceeding 37,000 units, a 1.4-fold year-on-year increase, with a penetration rate approaching 50%, setting a new historical record. Total sales of new energy heavy trucks for the year are projected to reach approximately 224,000 units, with the penetration rate more than doubling compared to last year, reaching 28%.
The new energy mixer truck segment experienced explosive growth, soaring from a penetration rate of 10.06% in 2022 to nearly 70% in 2025. Total sales for 2025 are expected to exceed 20,000 units, with pure electric mixer trucks accounting for a high proportion and a large share within the new energy heavy truck segment.
Heavy Truck Exports
Regarding exports, China's heavy truck exports reached 330,000 units in 2025, setting a new record. In December 2025, my country's heavy truck exports also maintained steady growth, with an estimated year-on-year increase of nearly 20%. As an important component of engineering equipment, concrete mixer truck exports also remained resilient, gaining continued recognition in overseas markets thanks to their cost-effectiveness and continuously improving service support. With the advancement of "Belt and Road" related projects and the acceleration of urbanization overseas, domestic concrete mixer truck manufacturers with reliable quality and cost advantages are expected to further expand their growth potential in the international market.
2026 Outlook for the Heavy Truck Market
The impressive nine-year consecutive growth rate and the dual surge in new energy vehicles and exports together outline a strong recovery for the heavy truck industry in 2025, with the outstanding performance of the concrete mixer truck market being the most prominent illustration of this picture.
Entering 2026, the continued release of policy dividends, the accelerated promotion of electrification transformation, and overseas opportunities brought by the "Belt and Road" initiative will inject more sustained growth momentum into the heavy truck and concrete mixer truck markets. From domestic infrastructure construction sites to overseas development hotspots, Chinese heavy trucks and concrete mixer trucks are writing a new chapter of high-quality development with stronger technological capabilities and a more complete industrial ecosystem!
