2017 witnesses the booming special vehicle market in China, which is, more likely, the calm before the storm. The domestic special vehicle industry is assumed to experience reshuffle during the next five years when 90% of enterprises will be excluded or marginalized.

According to data from the Hanyang Special Purpose Vehicle Institute, there was a robust market demand from January to September, as the cumulative production of eight categories of special vehicles in China totaled 1.731 million units, a year-on-year increase of 32.45%. In particular, the production of tank trucks and dump trucks was 86,000 units and 297,000 units respectively, whose growth rate is over 60%.

Is this high growth trend normal? Can it remain so? What should special vehicle enterprises do in the high growth trend of the industry? At the recent Wuhan Commercial Vehicle Show, Mr. Li Guiping, Managing Director of CIMC Vehicles Group Co., Ltd. (CIMC Vehicles), explained the changes in the special vehicle market and industry trends.

In Mr. Li’s view, the high growth of the domestic special vehicle market in 2017 would not have been possible without the influence of macro-economy. Two policy-related benefits, in particular, have played a role in turning the industry development on the right track.

Mr. Li Guiping, Managing Director of CIMC Vehicles Group Co., Ltd.

First, the macro economy has registered stable, positive performance. “In our opinion, China enjoyed a good momentum of economic growth which has had a positive impact on the special vehicle industry and benefited us a lot.” Mr. Li Guiping believes that under the impetus given by the “19th CPC National Congress”, the current situation is positive in all respects and cannot be fully expressed by one number.

Second, it is driven by policy-related growth. “Following the ‘Opinions on Further Promoting Cost Reduction and Efficiency Improvement in the Logistics Industry to Facilitate the Development of the Real Economy’ issued by the State Council this year, the logistics industry and special vehicle manufacturing industry will benefit most.” Li Guiping said.

To Mr. Li, the future will see the continued unleashing of market demand for five types of special vehicles as a result of new regulations. “Those special vehicles include: granule tank truck; dangerous goods transport vehicle; e-commerce and express delivery vehicle. The demand for alternative models will increase as the 17.5-meter trailer is withdrawn from the market due to non-compliance; car carrier. By the end of June next year, the demand for the center axle car carrier will explode even more; muck truck.”

As the leader in the special vehicle industry, CIMC Vehicles continued to grow rapidly with its businesses along with the trend this year, and its revenues also increased significantly. “In 2017, CIMC Vehicles’ business contribution in China exceeded 50% of global sales, sending an encouraging message.” Mr. Li said.

Despite the impressive growth of the special vehicle market as a whole, not all special vehicle enterprises have a chance to reap the dividend and all have to be wary of falling behind.

“China’s special vehicle industry will usher in a new chapter and will face new changes.” Mr. Li stressed that impelled by the ‘19th CPC National Congress’ China’s economy has entered a new era. “In the context of the new era, the special vehicle industry will also embrace its new era.”

“China has taken more efforts in controlling manufacturing emissions this year. As a result, many enterprises with outdated equipment and backward technology in our industry will be shut down, diverting more orders to large factories.” As Mr. Li sees it, the entry of the domestic special vehicle industry into a new ear accelerates the industry reshuffle. “I predict that in the next five years, 20 to 30 companies in the domestic special vehicle industry will become core players.”

According to data from the Hanyang Special Purpose Vehicle Institute, as of this September (SDRC Notice No. 300), there are 1,228 special vehicle companies with production qualifications in the industry, including 94 new companies in the first three quarters, the highest level ever; they are unevenly distributed, mainly in the economically developed provinces in the central and eastern regions.

In other words, the agglomeration of the domestic special vehicle industry will be higher, and about 90% of enterprises will be eliminated or marginalized, leaving only less than 10% of elite enterprises.

How to avoid from falling behind? Mr. Li revealed his solution: “Transformation and upgrading is the only way for enterprises to survive and develop.”

He said that from the implications of the company’s practice on the industry, he believed in three key points for transformation. “The traditional manufacturing industry can be transformed and upgraded successfully; the transformation and upgrading must be organizationally prepared, culturally free from traditional factors, and supported by well-trained talent. If a rash investment is made without proper preparation, a lot of money may be spent only for a lesson.”

Mr. Li admitted that CIMC Vehicles was also exploring during its transformation and upgrading. “For example, the progress of technology cannot be achieved overnight. Before the launch of the Lighthouse project (CIMC Vehicles’ fully automated factory project), we continued to explore through one and more projects. We grew and fell too. Constant exploration inspired us and laid a technological foundation. We are more focused on semitrailer manufacturing as our main business. Based on our product features, we have prepared other product platform plans and made revisions to the strategic planning.”

In the exploration of transformation and upgrading, CIMC Vehicles once again set the benchmark for the industry. According to Mr. Li, the Dongguan Lighthouse Factory, newly built by CIMC Vehicles, is the first special vehicle facility to implement automated production. It produces semitrailers in the exactly same way as producing automobiles (modular production), the first of its kind in China. Besides, it outperforms many automobile manufacturers in environmental protection such as environment-friendly coating and sewage treatment. For example, no peculiar smell is nosed when the robotic arms are spraying, and the treated sewage can hold goldfish.

Mr. Li looks farther and looks forward more to the upgrade of the special vehicle industry as a whole than to its own business. “We hope to promote the transformation and upgrading of our enterprise and then the upgrade of the whole industry through modular design and the use of appropriate automated production technology and digital management system.” (Editor in charge: Guo Tao 

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