Introduction

Amid intensifying competition in the global market and cutthroat competition within the industry, Shandong Heavy Industry Group has consistently maintained a steady and pragmatic strategic resolve, firmly committed to building an "International Heavy Industry" with a long-termist conviction. By precisely optimizing its market layout, deepening localized operations, and building a "1+N" brand matrix, the company has achieved sound development results with dual growth in export revenue and profit, demonstrating the strong resilience of Chinese enterprises setting sail overseas. On July 17, Xinhua Net presented a panoramic focus on the successful experience of Shandong Heavy Industry's international development. The original text is reproduced below.

Shandong Heavy Industry is accelerating its global strategic layout, progressively transitioning from a single complete-vehicle export model to a three-dimensional framework of market globalization, ecosystem localization, and brand internationalization. "We must accelerate the building of the '1+N' brand matrix, promote the global communication of the parent and subsidiary brands of the Group and its affiliated enterprises in an integrated manner, and enhance the value recognition of the brand family. We must take the international market as our strategic focus, optimize our market layout, strengthen business synergy, continue to consolidate advantageous markets, expand potential markets, and tap emerging markets, and accelerate team localization, operations localization, and manufacturing localization in key regions." Man Shengang, Party Secretary and Chairman of Shandong Heavy Industry Group, proposed at the workers' congress that the company must unswervingly build an "International Heavy Industry."

Continuously optimizing market layout, with clear goals for strategic adjustment——

In the first half of this year, while seizing the development opportunities of the "Belt and Road," Shandong Heavy Industry opened up new strategic blue oceans, shifting the strategic focus of its export markets to high-potential growth markets such as Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, the Americas, and Europe. Leveraging superior product technology, a comprehensive service network, and strong brand effects, it has frequently won large orders and achieved new breakthroughs.

The first batch of vehicles from Zhongtong Bus's order of 895 pure electric buses for export to Chile departs from Liaocheng, Shandong

In March, Zhongtong Bus won a major order for 895 pure electric buses to serve the public transportation system of Santiago, the capital of Chile. Since 2024, Shandong Heavy Industry has continued to carry out management improvement actions in "quality, innovation, and cost." By benchmarking against world-class enterprises, it has continued to increase investment in resources and factors of production to enhance the quality, technology, and cost competitiveness of its products. Against this backdrop, a series of products with high technological content, high cost-effectiveness, and high added value have successively made the brand name of Chinese manufacturing resound globally.

The pace of expansion never stops. In Southeast Asia, Weichai's self-developed "Golden Powertrain" system completed export orders at the thousand-unit level; in Mexico, Weichai's big data center generator sets successfully penetrated the ranks of international giants with the full-chain speed advantages of "comprehensive layout, fast response, and superior performance"; in Europe, Zhongtong's N12 series new energy buses made their debut on the Nordic continent, exclusively customized for Danish customers... The Group's heavy trucks, buses, and power generation equipment are cutting through obstacles and forging ahead in high-end markets around the world.

Weichai's full-series, full-domain power generation products under Shandong Heavy Industry appear at the Shanghai International Power Equipment and Generator Set Exhibition

In the first half of this year, the export revenue and profit of Shandong Heavy Industry Group increased by 5.6% year on year. The Group's heavy truck exports ranked first in the industry, and light truck exports increased by 73% year on year. Sinotruk's heavy truck exports successfully broke through the 70,000-unit mark, achieving a year-on-year increase of 3%; Weichai's data center generator sets increased by 664% year on year.

Overseas delivery of high-performance engineering vehicles by Sinotruk under Shandong Heavy Industry

Man Shengang, Party Secretary and Chairman of Shandong Heavy Industry Group, said: "Under the complex and ever-changing international situation, we must continue to optimize our market layout. Wherever product added value is higher and profits are greater, wherever it is safer, more efficient, and more sustainable, that is where we must focus our efforts."

Firmly advancing the pace of global development, with depth in local operations——

Shandong Heavy Industry deeply embeds global thinking, roots itself in market demand, and provides differentiated products and customized services to global customers.

To adapt to the needs of overseas markets, with the support of Shandong Heavy Industry Group, Shantui established an Application Engineering Department to ensure local adaptability of products. In the Australian market, Shantui provided "private customization" tailored to the characteristics of the Australian market and the harsh and complex construction environments of mines. The DH16-B3 bulldozer is equipped with 3D-assisted automatic leveling technology, significantly improving construction precision and efficiency, and is also equipped with an integrated positive-pressure and ROPS&FOPS cab, further ensuring the safety and comfort of the equipment. At the beginning of the year, Shantui, together with Weichai, launched the "Quality Service Ten-Thousand-Mile Journey" series of activities, with a service network covering more than 20 countries and over 600 units of equipment. Through concentrated visits, they provided customers with equipment inspection, technical training, after-sales follow-up visits, and other services.

Shandong Heavy Industry appears as a group at Australia's largest construction machinery exhibition DDT

In addition to enhancing local product adaptability and comprehensive caring services, a network spanning the globe has become a strong support for Shandong Heavy Industry to serve and respond to the world. To date, Shandong Heavy Industry has more than 300 overseas offices, over 1,000 marketing channels, 36 trading platform companies in 25 countries, and 40 overseas factories worldwide (including KD factories), achieving overseas localized assembly and manufacturing in more than 30 countries, with nearly 2,000 employees stationed overseas. Its affiliated enterprises have established a network system spanning the globe, and products have been exported to more than 170 countries and regions worldwide.

At the same time, it fully leverages the resource advantages of a large group in which strong enterprises lead weaker ones, large enterprises lead smaller ones, and combined sales are carried out. Drawing on the overseas channel network advantages of strong brands such as Sinotruk and Weichai, it shares them with companies such as Shantui, Zhongtong Bus, and Lovol Smart Agriculture. At present, the Group has more than 1,000 overseas channels, of which nearly 300 are shared channels, synergistically driving the rapid growth of the Group's bus, construction machinery, agricultural equipment, and other businesses.

Shouldering global responsibilities, with warmth in brand building——

While striding overseas and sailing across the globe, striving to polish the name card of "Made in China," Shandong Heavy Industry Group is also writing heartwarming stories of hand in hand and heart to heart with local people.

Weichai and other enterprises under Shandong Heavy Industry provide disaster relief for the Myanmar earthquake

In Kazakhstan, Shandong Heavy Industry is preparing to build a Nishan Book House to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations and contribute to local education. In March this year, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Myanmar. Weichai Group, Sinotruk, Shantui Shares, Lovol Smart Agriculture, and other enterprises under Shandong Heavy Industry actively provided material and equipment assistance to the Myanmar region. Weichai transported generator sets to the disaster area, Sinotruk rushed to the disaster area loaded with 40 tons of earthquake relief supplies, and Shantui SE210LC excavators advanced to the epicenter. In May, Sinotruk held the 2025 Foreign Trainer Training Camp, with 25 trainees from 9 African countries participating in the training, cultivating professional talent for the local automotive industry.

Globally, Shandong Heavy Industry builds platforms for communication with customers by holding Global Partner Conferences. To date, Shandong Heavy Industry has successively held multiple Global Partner Conferences in Indonesia, Dubai, and Mexico, reaching all five continents. This year, it will also invite global partners to Qingdao to visit Shandong and Shandong Heavy Industry, further deepening cooperation, building consensus, and achieving win-win development.