China targets 1.6 million heavy‑duty electric trucks by 2030

The Chinese government has unveiled a master plan to accelerate the adoption of new‑energy heavy‑duty trucks (over 12 tonnes). By 2030 it aims for a 40 % share of new registrations, corresponding to about 1.6 million electric trucks and 18 % of total freight traffic on motorways.

To meet the target, the plan calls for the construction of roughly 3,000 charging and battery‑swap stations and the creation of 30,000 km of carbon‑neutral freight corridors along key highways. Financial incentives will include credit support, dedicated green bonds, direct subsidies for vehicle purchases and infrastructure, as well as new business models such as battery leasing and separate vehicle‑battery ownership.

Regional ambitions are higher in areas such as the Beijing‑Tianjin‑Hebei megacity cluster and the Fenwei Plain, where an 80 % electrification rate for short‑haul routes is sought. In 2025, sales of heavy‑duty NEV trucks in China reached 231,100 units, a 182 % year‑on‑year increase and a 29 % share of new registrations, boosted by a one‑off surge in December when subsidies were phased out.