Setting sail across oceans to conquer new continents. On the evening of March 20, the first batch delivery ceremony for Sinotruk's 500 pickup trucks export to South America was held in Zhangqiu, Jinan. Leaders from Sinotruk Light Vehicle, industry media representatives, and South American client representatives gathered across time zones to witness the first 100 pickup trucks officially heading to Ecuador, a country on the equator across the ocean. This order is a milestone achievement in Sinotruk Light Vehicle's international strategy, marking BOLDEN Pickup's official entry into overseas markets and further solidifying Sinotruk's leading position in the commercial vehicle industry.
500 Pickup Trucks Set Sail, Deepening Internationalization Strategy
In the magnificent international journey of Chinese auto enterprises, Sinotruk has consistently remained at the forefront, ranking first in industry exports for 20 consecutive years, with the vision of 'building a world-class full-range commercial vehicle group.' As Sinotruk's new-generation strategic product, the BOLDEN Pickup was designed with global markets in mind from its inception, driven by technological innovation and quality, creating a high-end pickup that combines practicality and quality for global users. This export of 500 BOLDEN Pickup trucks represents a critical leap from planning to execution in Sinotruk Light Vehicle's internationalization strategy, a dual victory of 'tough capability + precise positioning,' and another declaration showcasing Chinese pickup competitiveness to the world.
Localized R&D Building a New Export Model
In recent years, under the Belt and Road Initiative, bilateral exchanges between China and South American countries like Ecuador have significantly increased with remarkable trade outcomes. Responding to national strategy, Sinotruk Light Vehicle has targeted this region as one of its primary export markets. Additionally, many South American economies are based on agriculture, mining, and construction, where pickups serve perfectly for cargo transport, off-road travel, and family use, highly matching production and transportation needs. Consumer acceptance of pickup trucks is high in these regions, with pickups accounting for over 20% of total vehicle sales in some countries, making it a new highland for Chinese pickup exports.
In expanding into international markets, Sinotruk Light Vehicle has always maintained localization within globalization, deepening its 'technology-driven + localized operation' strategy and building a multinational value chain spanning R&D, manufacturing, and service to provide smart mobility solutions for global users. The pickups exported to South America were developed in close collaboration with local dealers, highly customized to meet local needs.
Before developing models for the South American market, the BOLDEN Pickup engineering team conducted comprehensive research on the vehicle operating environment in South America, thoroughly understanding local climate, terrain, road conditions, fuel quality, and driving habits, making dozens of targeted technical improvements: The hill assist system developed for mountainous terrain ensures power system reliability while increasing driving safety; the innovative altitude recognition system effectively solves the power attenuation problem in plateau areas; the dual-stage fuel filtration system significantly enhances fuel adaptability; corrosion resistance upgrades to key components such as exhaust pipes and drive shafts enable vehicles to easily handle highly corrosive environments; and the development of Spanish language interaction systems further enhances user experience.
Furthermore, to accommodate local consumers' aesthetics and usage needs, this export batch features new passenger-type front grilles and wheel arches paired with 18-inch tires for a more imposing appearance. Given the region's year-round foggy, low-visibility climate, special front fog lights and rear windshield defogger/defroster functions were added to enhance driving safety. These localized improvements not only demonstrate Sinotruk Light Vehicle's precise understanding of market demands but also highlight its 'customer-centered' global service philosophy.
Beyond adaptive modifications, the delivered BOLDEN commercial pickups are equipped with Weichai 2.0T diesel engines, delivering a maximum power of 140kW and maximum torque of 420N·m, with industry-leading overall performance. Additionally, the vehicles employ multiple acoustic sound insulation technologies, providing gasoline-engine-like quietness and redefining the comfort experience of diesel pickups. In terms of safety and durability, the new high-strength cab offers torsional rigidity of 32,000Nm/deg, with key materials reaching strengths of up to 1500Mpa. With galvanized sheets accounting for over 50% of materials and salt spray cycle durability testing reaching 1000 hours, the reliability far exceeds industry standards, providing users with long-term stable usage assurance.
To ensure deep alignment between products and markets, Sinotruk Light Vehicle conducted rigorous adaptive testing with local users. The BOLDEN Pickup traversed the entirety of Ecuador, covering mountain, plateau, rainforest, and various road conditions, completing nearly 20,000 kilometers of extreme verification in complex environments at altitudes of 4,600 meters. Its outstanding performance gained high recognition from local users, prompting Sinotruk Light Vehicle and Ecuadorian dealer Vehicentro to quickly reach a 500-unit order agreement. With reliable and versatile product capabilities, the BOLDEN Pickup can be widely applied across multiple scenarios including family vehicles, individual business transportation, farm operations, and industrial enterprise services, meeting local users' diverse needs for daily transportation, cargo hauling, and outdoor exploration.
Establishing Roots in the South American Market, Continuously Accelerating Global Layout
At the event, customer representatives from Ecuador and around the world witnessed the glorious moment of the hundred-unit delivery ceremony via cloud connection. Ecuadorian customer representatives Juan De Howit and Jose De Howitt expressed their trust and recognition of Chinese auto enterprises in their video speeches. They believe this cooperation 'opens a path of trust and success, and is a brave step toward redefining the possibilities of pickup trucks.'
From South America to the world, Sinotruk continues to expand its international footprint. This delivery ceremony represents both a milestone achievement in Sinotruk Light Vehicle's deep cultivation of the South American market and a new starting point for accelerating its global layout. Using Ecuador as a pivot, the BOLDEN Pickup will further radiate throughout South America, continuously enhancing brand influence through localized R&D and precise market strategies. Meanwhile, Sinotruk Light Vehicle has also developed customized products for extremely hot regions in the Middle East, conducting rigorous durability and performance tests to provide reliable and stable products for local customers, showcasing new brand advancements and technological innovations to global users.
From the banks of the Yellow River to an equatorial nation, the journey spanning tens of thousands of miles marks a new phase in the BOLDEN Pickup's global process. The successful delivery of this order not only brings superior product choices and travel experiences to South American users but also proves the strength of Chinese pickup brands to the world. With the deepening of its globalization strategy, Sinotruk's BOLDEN Pickup will accelerate its overseas expansion, demonstrating the power of Chinese brands' upward trajectory.