On December 19, 2008, the HOWO-A7 heavy-duty truck, which represents the highest level of China's heavy-duty truck industry, was grandly launched to the market in Jinan. More than 1,600 representatives of the heavy truck industry from all over the world attended the unveiling ceremony.
From design concept to vehicle configuration, from grandeur and beauty to practicality and reliability, from safety and economy to comfort and convenience, SINOTRUK’s newly launched HOWO-A7 heavy truck reflects SINOTRUK’s leading position in every aspect. Product development strategy. As the crystallization of China National Heavy Duty Truck's "Technology Leadership Strategy", HOWO-A7 has not only become the pinnacle of domestic heavy-duty trucks, but will also lead my country's heavy-duty truck industry to quickly move towards the world's advanced level.
High-tech content creates a perfect classic
HOWO-A7 series heavy trucks are the latest generation of heavy trucks in my country, using more than 130 latest technology patents. After more than a year of development and more than two years of repeated experiments on more than 50 experimental vehicles in various extreme environments, the HOWO-A7, which has been refined and refined, has become a world-famous product with high performance, high quality and high technical content. Domestic heavy-duty trucks have reached an unprecedented new level, which will fundamentally subvert people's traditional understanding of domestic heavy-duty trucks.
HOWO-A7 heavy-duty truck embodies the design concept of maximizing user benefits in every aspect. It adopts world-class major assemblies and electronic information systems to ensure driving comfort, safety, reliability and electronic level. All have reached the highest international level.
HOWO-A7 cab is jointly developed by China National Heavy Duty Truck and Italian Giugiaro Design Company. Adopting European style, the appearance is bold and unrestrained, with smooth lines and the same spray paint process as top-end cars, creating a noble and beautiful style; the wide windshield brings a wider field of vision, with electric adjustment and electric heating functions The rearview mirror is beautiful, practical and convenient; the electric lift system reduces labor intensity and is easy to maintain; in addition to adhering to the HOWO7 series and complying with Swedish regulations, the cab body and doors also refer to the improvement achievements of Swedish trucks in recent years. The steering wheel With the addition of a new high-tech device, when an impact occurs, the steering column can deform and absorb, making the safety performance of the HOWOA7 heavy truck reach the world's top level; the interior configuration of the cab also reflects the humanized design ideas of comfort and convenience.
Cooperating with world-class suppliers and welding in accordance with the advanced robot fully automatic assembly line to minimize the overall accuracy error; the body strength is domestically leading, and the cab can instantly move back 20 centimeters in a frontal collision; widely used The sharp-corner design and flame-retardant materials; the inertial rotating seat belt and the anti-drilling device designed inside the bumper make the vehicle's safety performance unparalleled in the country. The frame longitudinal beams made of new high-strength materials have a tensile strength of more than 820Mpa; the first domestically adopted disc twitch, 430 pull type diaphragm spring clutch, optimized design of new technology front axle and HW12, 16 series single and double The axle is mature and reliable, forming a complete vehicle match with excellent performance.
New power system, shaping a new concept of fuel-efficient heavy trucks
Sinotruk’s D12 series engines, known as the most fuel-efficient engines in China, adopt a series of the world’s latest technologies and have achieved obvious results. Differentiated results. Large displacement and high power allow the vehicle to obtain power from low idle speed, and its wide range enables the vehicle to obtain constant power value and maximum torque value. This characteristic determines the perfect fuel economy and driving performance of the D12 engine. It adopts Denso's new generation of electronically controlled rail fuel system, with a more precise degree of spray atomization; the newly improved DLC injector has higher reliability and anti-fouling media effect; it has upgraded national 4 and national 5 emissions potential; exquisite manufacturing and assembly processes enable the engine overhaul mileage to exceed one million kilometers.
The most advanced engine and transmission matching routes in the country are adopted to enable drivers and passengers to enjoy the convenience of top heavy truck driving while achieving the lowest fuel consumption; the front disc brake and ZF steering system greatly improve Improved safety and security.
AMT’s smart shifting leads China’s heavy trucks into a new era of automatic shifting
The smart manual-automatic AMT that comes standard with the HOWO-A7 heavy truck was jointly developed by China National Heavy Duty Truck and WABCO. The latest achievements have opened up a new era in China's heavy truck technology. SINOTRUK has registered the Chinese registered trademark "SINOTRUK Smart Automation" and the English registered trademark "Smartshift" specifically for this product.
The SMARTSHIFT 16-speed electronically controlled transmission has two modes: power and economy. Compared with mechanical transmissions, it has higher fuel efficiency and high safety. When driving, it feels like an experienced driver with rich driving experience is operating, allowing Chinese users to enjoy the operating comfort of international high-end heavy trucks ahead of time. According to experts, in terms of design, unlike ATs in the car industry, AMT mechanical transmissions realize automatic shifting through electronic control and are generally 3-5% more fuel-efficient than manual transmissions.
AMT is the standard technology for international high-end heavy trucks. 58% of trucks in Europe are equipped with AMT transmissions. AMT's automatic shifting mode is based on providing maximum power output and has manual shifting functions, crawling functions and economical functions.
Strong technological development capabilities and product supporting systems have always been an important support for China National Heavy Duty Truck's core competitiveness. For many years, automatic transmissions have been a top priority in the research and development of the domestic automobile industry. SINOTRUK began research and development in 2005, with small-batch loading tests in 2007 and mass production in 2009. The magical "Sinotruk Speed" has once again made SINOTRUK a success, making it the only domestic enterprise that can mass produce AMT and achieve industrialization. The HOWO-A7 series products are positioned for the international market and the domestic high-end heavy truck market. During the design and development process, in order to ensure victory in the global competition, China National Heavy Duty Truck Co., Ltd. collaborated with world-class suppliers on important components to design, in accordance with international key assembly design standards, combined with China's actual characteristics, joint scientific research and development, and special matching, and found a way A new path to international technological cooperation. HOWO-A7 series products adopt German ZF steering gear and oil pump, WABCO two-cylinder air compressor, full vehicle brake valve, jointly designed AMT transmission and SartShift intelligent automatic manual shifting system, German VOSS brake interface, MANN -HUMMEL fuel filtration and plastic air filter systems, SABO shock absorbers, BEHR cooling systems, VDO instrument + control systems, VDO audio systems, WESTFALIA exhaust bellows, HENDRICKSON rubber suspension and other world-class technologies and products, while combining SINOTRUK’s many years of heavy truck experience and precise understanding of the market have developed many excellent assemblies with SINOTRUK’s independent intellectual property rights.
The powerful heart of heavy trucks - the most fuel-efficient engine in China
The newly designed SINOTRUK D12 series engines are currently the most representative heavy truck engines in China, with a power range of 340- 460Ps.
China National Heavy Duty Truck has developed a series of new technologies and achieved obvious differentiated results, giving the D12 engine good maneuverability. The large displacement and high power enable the vehicle to obtain power from low idle speed. At the same time, its wide speed range enables the whole machine to obtain constant power value and maximum torque value. This feature determines the perfect fuel economy and driving performance of the D12 engine.
Exquisite manufacturing and assembly technology enables the engine overhaul mileage to be more than 1 million kilometers. It effectively solves the problem of high after-sales failure of other similar models in China.
In order to meet the needs of different customers, SINOTRUK has also customized D10 series engines (270PS-380PS) for HOWO-A7. The D10 series engines adopt independent innovation and China's first technology - a mid-mounted supercharger. The application of this technology has brought substantial changes to the intake and exhaust systems. The air intake is smooth and the exhaust is concise, making the vehicle's "lung" function more prominent and fuel economy better improved.
Both the D10 and D12 engines meet the National 3 emission standards and have the technical potential of National 4 and National 5.
Leading technology that creates a new era of China's heavy-duty truck transmissions
——SMARTSHIFT-AMT intelligent shift automated manual transmission
SMARTSHIFT literally translates as "smart shifting" . AMT is the standard technology for high-end heavy trucks in the world. 50% of trucks in Europe are equipped with AMT transmissions. The launch of SINOTRUK SMARTSHIFT-AMT enables Chinese users to enjoy the operating comfort of international high-end heavy trucks, thereby elevating China's heavy truck technology to the ranks of the world's advanced heavy trucks! Leading China (Asia) heavy trucks into the era of automatic shifting.
Sinotruk SMARTSHIFT transmission is a 16-speed electronically controlled, automatic transmission, just like a highly skilled driver driving a truck, with higher fuel utilization.
The working principle and structure of AMT are completely different from AT in cars. The AT for cars uses a turbine to drive hydraulic oil, and the hydraulic oil then drives the mechanical device. The efficiency loss of oil drive is large, so it generally consumes 1-2 liters more fuel per 100 kilometers than a manual transmission. AMT is a mechanical transmission that realizes automatic shifting through electronic control. When shifting, it is also like a manual transmission. It needs to separate the clutch and increase the speed of the engine or brake the transmission. When synchronization is achieved, the most appropriate gear will be automatically switched. Generally, it is more The manual box saves 3%-5% of fuel.
Suitable for various working conditions. Using Sinotruk's SMARTSHIFT, drivers can focus more on driving and the surrounding traffic environment, and respond in a timely manner. Help new drivers reach the level of advanced drivers. The driver can still shift gears manually. Switch to manual mode and use the control handle to select the appropriate gear. Trucks using SMARTSHIFT do not have a clutch pedal, and shifting is fully automatic.
Extremely high reliability. All AMT hardware has been used and matured in the European heavy truck industry for many years.
Technically distinctive front and rear axle assemblies
The new technology front axle (front axle) optimized and designed using finite element and related engineering software is divided into two categories: 7 tons and 9 tons. :
——The new 7-ton front axle is the latest specially developed front axle for road vehicles developed by SINOTRUK. Its load capacity is better than similar domestic models, and its stability and steering control are flexible due to the application of new processing technology. , so that the dead weight is reduced and the reliability is increased.
——The 9-ton front axle is currently the front axle with the highest load-bearing capacity in China. Its dead weight is the same as the original HOWO front axle. A large number of tests have shown that its maneuverability and reliability have reached the best state.
China National Heavy Duty Truck's new 7-ton and 9-ton front axles are equipped with disc brakes as standard. This is another new technology application unique to domestic heavy-duty truck tractors and is completely consistent with the configuration of the latest heavy-duty trucks in Europe and the United States.
Mature and reliable transaxle. HW12 and 16 series single and double axles are the largest and most powerful single-stage reduction axles developed by SINOTRUK that are close to the world-class level. Continuous technological improvements over the past few years have made the middle and rear axle assemblies technologically mature and durable. HW16 speed ratio is 3.73, 4.22; HW12 speed ratio is 3.91, 4.875, 5.833
HC16, ST16 wheel reduction axle. HC16 cast axle housing is used for engineering vehicles, with speed ratios of 4.42, 4.8, and 5.73
ST16 stamped axle housing can be used for road vehicles, with speed ratios of 3.93, 4.42, 4.8, 5.11, and 5.73
Vehicle matching components with superior performance
Disc brakes were first used in heavy-duty trucks in China. Disc brakes are standard equipment for high-end heavy trucks in the world. Compared with drum brakes, disc brakes have outstanding advantages such as better braking efficiency at high speeds, heavy loads and high temperatures; more stable and comfortable braking; good heat dissipation and easier replacement of brake pads.
Sinotruk disc brake is a patented product with completely independent intellectual property rights. It has compact structure, light weight, automatic adjustment of braking gap, short braking distance and outstanding braking efficiency. Effectively reduce tire blowout. At the same time, the braking torque output is stable and the braking is smooth, effectively solving the problems of brake head swing and braking deviation. The service life is much longer than that of drum brakes.
The disc brake successfully developed by China National Heavy Duty Truck has taken a big step forward in the level of Chinese truck technology.
Pull type diaphragm spring clutch. The only new diaphragm spring raw materials and friction plate components in China that are all imported from Germany. The driven disc torsional damper is designed with a large torsion angle and small torsional stiffness, and the disc hub is processed using advanced laser technology. Through 3 million life tests and harsh real-vehicle road tests, product performance and quality and uniformity of working force values ??have reached the international advanced level.
Cabin exterior
The primer and topcoat are sprayed on the latest paint line independently developed by SINOTRUK. Advanced equipment and high-quality paint ensure the longevity of the vehicle's paint surface. Cleanliness, brightness, corrosion resistance and adhesion have all reached or exceeded international standards.
The front is beautiful and majestic, and the wide windshield gives you a wider field of vision; the combination rearview mirror, main rearview mirror and wide-angle rearview mirror have electric adjustment functions and electric heating functions. The drag coefficient is as low as 0.57, which greatly reduces vehicle fuel consumption and reaches the world's advanced level.
The newly designed combined headlight assembly integrates the high beam, low beam, position light, auxiliary high beam and fog light into one, saving installation space.
The staggered layout of the lamps has a novel shape and simple and bright visual effects, providing good observation and vision for night driving. Headlight dimming and bulb replacement are performed at the rear of the headlight, and the dimming mechanism adopts a connecting rod design, which is more accurate and convenient.
The streamlined shape on the side gives an elegant and dynamic feeling; the air intake and the spoiler complement each other.
Ignition lock, door lock and fuel tank lock in one.
Standardly equipped with a 400-liter aluminum alloy fuel tank. An optional 600-liter aluminum alloy oversized fuel tank is also available. The high-strength and lightweight material of the 600-liter super large fuel tank on one side (with a combination pedal) has become the new standard feature of international heavy trucks in recent years, giving the A7 tractor a super endurance of more than 1,500 kilometers.
Cab interior
The warm-toned interior makes the interior environment of the cab more warm and comfortable. The overall wrap-around instrument panel has all control keys reasonably arranged and within easy reach.
High-level standard configuration
The cab body has high floor (i.e. low hood), high roof, extended high floor, low floor, high roof, extended low floor, and low floor standard five This model is equipped with four-airbag air suspension, which can perfectly meet the comfort requirements of customers under operating conditions. Its world-class level of collision safety is unmatched by any domestic model.
Electric doors and windows, electric rearview mirrors and heating, three locks in one. Top international brand air conditioners, heating systems, side sun visors, electric flip devices, large-angle adjustable steering wheels, large storage spaces, cigarette lighters, water cup holders, external power sockets, etc. bring customers a car-like experience.
The luxurious driver’s air suspension seat is equipped with electric heating, seat belts and seat armrests, making the driver feel the warmth of home.
Multiple large-capacity storage spaces can be easily used with a raise of your hands.
Spacious interior space: The height difference between the hood and the floor of the high-floor cab is only 17 cm, creating a space equal to your height and making it easy to pass.
The seats are divided into luxury and basic types, and the sturdy cushions can be adjusted forward and backward and at multiple angles. The luxury seats are equipped with air shock absorption and seat cushion heating functions, and the backrest has lumbar support and side support, as well as seat armrests.
The CD player with USB interface adopts SIEMENS-VDO products of the internationally renowned brand, and the sound effect is like the sound of nature.
The hot and cold air channels are directly led to the doors on both sides, allowing for quick and effective defrosting and defogging.
The pedal-type locking steering wheel can be adjusted in all directions in height and angle according to the driver's operating habits and body shape.
The new multi-function steering wheel is equipped with electronic control buttons to control the audio system and GSM phone.
The integrated design of electronically controlled automatic air conditioning and heating air conditioning is unique; it has a domestically pioneered and uniquely designed ventilation system with excellent air circulation performance, which can effectively remove dust and odors. In the closed state, the air can still be kept clean; the cold and warm air channels are directly led to the doors on both sides, defrosting and defogging are fast and effective.
A bunk bed that can accommodate two people at the same time. The lower berth can be split into two seats and a small dining table to create a home-like living experience. The upper sleeper has a unique shape, the sleeper is wider and has a pull-out ladder at the bottom.
The dashboard can display vehicle working condition information through high-brightness LEDs, with a total of 34 indicator lights, making the instrument lighting and work instructions more bright and eye-catching. Bus communication adopts dual CAN technology, with two independent CAN interfaces, which allows direct reading of digital bus information and direct input of sensor signals.
Central electrical junction box.
Frame assembly
The A7 frame longitudinal beams are made of new-generation high-strength materials with a tensile strength of over 820Mpa. The single-layer longitudinal beam, 300×90×8, and 90mm airfoil width enables the frame to obtain greater bending and torsional strength, and the chassis performance is more stable. While the load-bearing capacity is better than the original frame, the vehicle's dead weight is reduced by about 100 Kilogram.
The electric cab lifting system reduces labor intensity and facilitates vehicle maintenance.
Multi-faceted security
Active and passive safety systems: prevent problems before they occur.
● The cab, designed using the latest achievements in ergonomics, has a comfortable environment and ensures that the drivers and passengers are energetic;
● The wide front windshield and combination rearview mirror eliminate the need for Blind area, excellent vision;
● The upper sleeper is equipped with a safety net;
● Fully adopts the latest upgraded version of Weibo ABS technology, and on the basis of fully meeting European regulations, additional ASR+EBL+TPM ensures driving safety to the greatest extent. ASR - to avoid vehicle skidding; EBL - to ensure better braking force distribution; TPM - to detect changes in tire pressure at any time.
● Use LED rear taillights, which are brighter, have a long life and have fewer faults, making driving at night safer.
● The new engine EVB braking technology ensures that when the vehicle is driving down a long slope, it can effectively control the vehicle speed, increase the vehicle braking power, reduce the frequency of brake use, and reduce the wear of the service brakes and tires. Improved service life and driving safety will make drivers feel more at ease.
● The braking method of front disc and rear drum is adopted to effectively shorten the braking distance and ensure driving safety.
● Standard tubeless tires: It has many advantages such as light weight, good balance, low heat generation, wear resistance, safety, etc. It can save about 5% of fuel due to low rolling resistance.
HOWO-A7 has two series and five cab types for users to choose from:
Low floor series: low floor standard cab; low floor extended cab; low floor high cab top.
High floor series: high floor and high roof cab; high floor extended cab.
The HOWO-A7 heavy truck with more than 130 new patented technologies, with its gorgeous and noble image, transcendent quality, and powerful and heroic momentum, shows the highest status of the leader of contemporary Chinese heavy trucks. Style. I vaguely remember that when I was learning to drive a few years ago, I struggled to step on the clutch and hold the gear. The car accidentally stalled and I was scolded by the driver. Today's changes in the times and people's high requirements for driving efficiency have made car manufacturing more humane, and automatic transmissions are increasingly appearing on the stage.
In China, if it is common to install manual or automatic transmissions on cars, then it is rare to install this equipment on large trucks. China National Heavy Duty Truck and WABCO have cooperated for more than two years to develop the SMARTSHIFT, which is matched with the new product HOWO A7, opening a magnificent chapter for the domestic heavy truck industry.
Classic appearance, international trend
On the test track, eight Sinotruk trucks equipped with AMT transmissions were lined up in a row, and their posture was very spectacular. At this time, the top-ranked HOWO A7 caught my eye. When I first arrived, although the severe cold in the north was not used to me as a southerner, the majestic appearance of the A7 made my blood boil and urged me to make a comprehensive analysis of it impatiently. As the saying goes: When evaluating something, the first impression is the most important. HOWO A7 has the feeling of falling in love at first sight.
Friends who are familiar with cars may be familiar with the mention of "Giugiaro". It is a famous Italian design company that has designed cars for Maserati, Bugatti and other dream luxury cars. "Giugiaro" uses its original design concept to provide capital for each car to show its own personality. SINOTRUK cooperated with Giugiaro Design Company to design a classic appearance that is in line with international trends. In particular, the newly designed combined headlight assembly integrates high and low beam lights, fog lights, etc. into one. The staggered layout makes the shape novel and beautiful, and the visual effect is simple and bright. In addition, a pair of combination lights are attached above the windshield, which also provides good visibility for driving at night. The highlight of the side of the car comes from the aluminum alloy fuel tank with a combination pedal. This design makes it easier for maintenance personnel to get on the back of the car for maintenance work.
The installation position of the HOWO A7 engine assembly is approximately 10cm higher than that of the original HOWO series, which improves vehicle passability.
The interior of the cab changes from the usually used imitation mahogany dashboard and uses warm-toned trim. Between luxury and warmth, when it comes to commercial vehicles, I believe most people will choose warmth. A7 fully considers the driver's rest environment. The interior space of the cab can not only accommodate an adult with a height of 180cm walking upright, but the lower sleeper berth can be split into two seats and a small dining table. This kind of interior cab layout is rare among domestic heavy trucks. .
Smart shifting, faster speed and agility
HOWO A7 adopts a lot of humanized design concepts. Usually drivers are troubled by the small distance between the steering wheel and the seat when entering the cab, but the A7 solves this confusion. After parking, the driver only needs to step on the pedal on the lower left side and adjust the steering wheel to a position perpendicular to the ground, which makes it easier for the driver to enter and exit the cab.
Finally you can try "Smart Shifting". SMARTSHIFT is an automatic mechanical transmission (AMT). It is based on a mechanical transmission and a dry clutch, and uses an electronic control unit to control gear selection, gear shifting and clutch operation. The structure of the AMT is very different from the AT usually used in cars. The latter uses a turbine to drive hydraulic oil, and the hydraulic oil then drives the mechanical device. The efficiency loss of hydraulic oil drive is often large, so fuel consumption will also increase. It should be said that the operation method of AMT is similar to that of AT, and the structural principle is similar to that of MT. It can be said that the characteristics of the two are balanced. In addition, this transmission has 4 built-in reverse gears, which is very easy to operate and can also meet the driving needs under various working conditions.
Adjust the seat back to the most comfortable position, press and hold the "F (function)" key on the transmission and push it forward, then step on the accelerator pedal, and the A7 will roar with a high-pitched engine. A big step forward. Since it is driving without a car, the driver can force an upshift through manual intervention. In any case, this transmission lives up to its name, intelligently understanding the driver's driving intentions and upshifting in a timely manner, effectively reducing the physical exertion caused by the driver shifting gears and depressing the clutch, allowing them to concentrate on observing the road conditions.
After just a while, the A7 unknowingly accelerated to about 80km/h. At this time, the engine speed was maintained at 1500r/min, which is close to the maximum torque speed. The windshield in front of the cab and the large electrically adjustable rearview mirrors on both sides provide excellent visibility. Since the test drive venue was arranged on the runway, the nearly top-speed A7 pulled its strong body as smoothly as the plane took off! However, the A7 running at high speed does not make a lot of noise, thanks to the good noise reduction performance of the D12 engine and other assemblies. This engine adopts Denso's new generation electronically controlled spray rail system, which has a more precise degree of spray atomization.
Sensitive braking, safe and reliable
As a high-end heavy truck, the safety performance of the A7 cannot be ignored. The A7 adopts a "front disc and rear drum" configuration with ABS to achieve optimal vehicle stability. Disc brakes are also a standard configuration for high-end heavy trucks in the world. Compared with drum brakes, they have the characteristics of better braking efficiency at high speeds, heavy loads and high temperatures. . When the vehicle speed was increased to 80km/h, and I was about to reach the end of the test track, I stepped on the brake pedal calmly. The car body did not move forward significantly under the strong inertial force, nor did the brakes swing or brake. Instead of moving off track, it decelerates in a slow and gentle manner.
In addition, the A7's body strength is in a leading position in the country, and the body uses a large number of sharp-edge designs and flame-retardant materials. In the event of a frontal collision, the cab can instantly move back 20cm, and the passive safety aspect is also quite good. On November 7, 2010, Chongqing TV’s SINOTRUK HOWO A7 OB truck and the German Benz OB truck successfully arrived in Guangzhou. It is understood that the Chongqing TV Asian Games broadcast team started from Chongqing on November 4 and successfully arrived in Guangzhou via Chongqing, Hubei and Hunan. The SINOTRUK A7 broadcast truck successfully drove into the Guangzhou Luogang Asian Games Basketball Stadium in the afternoon.
As one of the few domestically produced broadcast vehicles in China, the SINOTRUK HOWO A7 used by Chongqing TV Station makes the vehicle comfortable to control due to its excellent performance and high-end configuration, especially the 35 version AMT software automatic shifting function. The performance, acceleration and high-speed stability of the vehicle are fully demonstrated. Together with the Mercedes-Benz imported broadcast vehicle, it has been highly praised by the driver of Chongqing TV Station. SINOTRUK launched the HOWO A7, a new generation of high-end heavy-duty leading product, in 2009. After a short market introduction period, judging from the current performance in domestic and foreign markets, it has begun to enter a mature stage.
Earlier in 2010, China National Heavy Duty Truck and Petroleum Corporation of Venezuela signed an export contract for 750 HOWO A7 tractors. The first batch of 500 tractors was shipped to sea on the afternoon of April 27; Domestically, HOWO A7 has also been recognized by the market, with sales increasing significantly and beginning to enter the market maturity stage.
Since the market of HOWO A7 is mainly tractor-trailers, HOWO A7 will greatly improve the current situation that the proportion of dump trucks and engineering vehicles of Sinotruk is far greater than that of highway tractors, and change the situation of Sinotruk market structure.
Towards maturity
According to Duan Hengyong, deputy general manager of China National Heavy Duty Truck Sales Company, in the first five months of 2010, HOWO A7 sales more than quadrupled compared to the full year of 2009. "Last year, because it was the first year of HOWO A7's launch, the annual sales volume reached 1,958 units. As of May 5 this year, there have been orders for more than 4,000 units, which is more than double that of last year."
Dealers have the most say. Du Weiguo, chairman of Jinan East China Heavy Duty Truck Joint Sales Company, lamented that the introduction period of HOWO A7 was very short and the product was quickly recognized by the market. "In 2009, we sold more than 1,000 SINOTRUK products, including 20 A7s. As of May 2010, we had sold more than 800 vehicles, and there were already more than 50 HOWO A7s. ”
Duan Hengyong revealed that the heavy truck market has ushered in strong growth momentum this year, highway transportation capacity has improved, and the tractor market has grown rapidly. Last year, the tractor market reached 210,000 units, among which Dongfeng The tractor market of three companies, Jiefang, Foton and Auman, has reached more than 150,000 units. However, the product structure of SINOTRUK relies too much on the absolute market share of dump trucks and engineering vehicles. Although it occupies a market segment with an absolute advantage , but the market structure is very unbalanced. The market share of dump trucks and engineering vehicles is more than 40%, while the proportion of tractors is smaller, which is detrimental to the long-term development of the company.
This situation will gradually improve with the increase in the number of HOWO A7s, which are mainly tractors. Wang Dechun, general manager of China National Heavy Duty Truck's Marketing Department, told reporters that China National Heavy Duty Truck's original intention of launching HOWO A7 early last year was just to let the market know about this product, and did not pursue large sales, because the HOWO series of products is still in its middle-aged period of prosperity. China SINOTRUK's market mainly relies on its best-selling HOWO products and is not eager to launch the higher-end HOWO A7. Even under such conditions, nearly 2,000 units were sold last year. With the full range of HOWO A7 dump trucks, mixer trucks, and mixed cement trucks all set to be on the national notice in July, the main product of HOWO A7 is tractors. Ushering in very rapid market growth.
Yu Youde, deputy general manager of Sinotruk in charge of sales, said that it should be no problem for HOWO A7 to reach 8,000 to 10,000 units this year. In fact, compared with other high-end heavy trucks, such as Jiefang J6 and Dongfeng Tianlong, HOWO A7 has been fast enough from introduction to maturity.
Market Recognition
Whether it is the technical department or the sales staff, during the interview, the employees of SINOTRUK sincerely revealed that when the high-end heavy-duty vehicles they personally built were recognized by the market, of joy. What they are most proud of is that many high-end configurations that have not been assembled in batches by other domestic manufacturers were first mass-assembled and put on the market by China National Heavy Duty Truck and gained recognition.
“The top-end HOWO A7 is about 20,000 yuan more expensive than Jiefang J6 and Dongfeng Tianlong. There is a reason for the high price.” Yu Youde believes that China’s heavy-duty vehicles have the same technical style as sedans. The difference between European and Japanese trucks is that the roads in the south are winding and mountainous. Users prefer the Japanese-style Valin and Auman, while the north accepts European technology such as the HOWO A7. The HOWO A7 is currently the representative of high-end European heavy trucks in China. , its high-end technologies such as AMT transmission, SartShift intelligent automated manual shifting system, and front disc and rear drum disc brakes were the first to be assembled in batches on HOWO A7, becoming the favorite configuration of users.
According to people in the heavy-duty vehicle industry, some domestic heavy-duty truck companies are also actively developing automatic transmissions, and some only assemble a very small amount of them. As for front disc and rear drum brakes, only China National Heavy Duty Truck Co., Ltd. currently matches them. In the market, SINOTRUK was the first to launch automatic transmission products to the market. Like the original EGR, this itself is promoting the improvement and popularization of high-end technology for China's heavy-duty vehicles.
In addition, HOWO A7 is equipped with high-end configurations such as German ZF steering gear and oil pump, WABCO two-cylinder air compressor, SABO shock absorber, MANN-HUMMEL fuel filtration and plastic air filter system.
Wang Yiping, director of the First Vehicle Institute of China National Heavy Duty Truck Technology Center, told reporters that the original design positioning of HOWO A7 was European. It cooperated with internationally renowned manufacturers to upgrade based on HOWO, and its performance reached international levels.
Leading the trend
In 2009, China National Heavy Duty Truck sold more than 120,000 vehicles, ranking among the top three heavy-duty vehicle companies in the world. This year’s target is 150,000 vehicles. According to China National Heavy Duty Truck’s internal According to analysis, it is possible to exceed 160,000 vehicles or even reach 170,000 vehicles. Because the market is destined to be hot in the first half of the year, the key lies in the second half of the year. For China National Heavy Duty Truck, with such sales volume, China National Heavy Duty Truck has not only achieved rapid growth in scale, but is also leading the trend of high-end luxury heavy-duty vehicles.
When interviewing Director Wang Yiping, he had a document in hand that listed the seven major suppliers of MAN Company in the world. Wang Yiping told reporters that he had just returned from MAN Company in Germany, although it happened to be The European volcanic ash stayed in Germany for more than 10 days, but he had more opportunities to communicate and learn from MAN's technical staff. Wang Yiping revealed that the cooperation between China National Heavy Duty Truck and MAN is deepening and accelerating. MAN's seven largest global suppliers will also be China National Heavy Duty Truck's global procurement suppliers.
High efficiency, high horsepower, low fuel consumption, and lightweight may seem contradictory, but the combination of these contradictions is exactly the development trend of heavy-duty vehicles. Chinese heavy-duty vehicle companies are turning these seemingly contradictory combinations into harmony. of unity. SINOTRUK's HOWO A7 is such a representative. Regardless of configuration, design concept, vehicle matching, or supplier composition, SINOTRUK, which has its own controlled supply chain and a high degree of self-control, is leading this trend in the heavy-duty vehicle industry.