After the ‘08 crash we went to China looking for opportunities, heavy trucks being one of the emerging ones. By ~ 2013 there were around 20 new truck brands and we spoke to most of them. Whilst it was possible to import semi-officially and the export managers were very keen they said it would have to be done through the EU. We quickly learned that the EU were not going to allow heavy trucks from China into the EU. The EU itself has its own type approval facilities in China and the makers build to EU standards. It’s a long story! The Chinese were sanguine as they could not meet domestic demand at that point. One company simply bought Volvo.


The situation has changed somewhat, the Chinese are rationalising and now need to export. Good evidence for this is Ferrari F1, sponsored by Weichai. They are softening up the Europeans. The motor lobby in the EU is the most powerful so you still do not see Chinese heavy trucks here, apart from show trucks at motor shows.


I am old enough to remember the exact same thing said about Datsun s. We know what happened subsequently. One thing we did discover was that parts logistics was not great but not in ways you might think. These are state of the art designs made in (German designed) state of the art factories. To walk around them was a revelation! Dunno about your 1955 Bedford point?


In determining whether you would choose the £30k Donfeng over £130 Merc you (wilfully) miss the important point here – we are being denied choice. Moreover, we are being denied the choice in order to protect the vested interests. As I’ve said before, the Merc truck that takes your cheap goods to the ship in China costs £30k – the Merc truck that picks up your now tariffed goods from the ship in the EU cost £130k. Says it all really...

...but - people see what they want to see.

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