The world's first 10,000-vehicle hydrogen energy heavy truck industrial chain project officially started construction on Oct 13.

The project is located in Mengsu Industrial Park in Ejin Horoo Banner in the city of Ordos in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

The project will receive a total of 2 billion yuan ($300 million) in investment from heavy-duty truck manufacturer AIC-IVECO HONGYAN Commercial Vehicle Company and cover an area of 1,200 mu (80 hectares).

It aims to create a standard-setting modern fuel cell heavy truck industrial chain and build itself into a global new energy heavy truck demonstration project.

Construction on the project is divided into two phases.

The first phase will consist of new energy heavy truck assembly plants, test tracks, and supporting facilities, which are expected to be completed and begin operating by the end of 2023.

The second phase will consist of cab-welding and painting workshops and further expand the assembly plant. They are scheduled to start operating at the end of 2024.

Meanwhile, the new energy heavy truck base will consist of a data factory and fully introduce large-scale AGV intelligent production lines with an automation rate of more than 90 percent.

They are meant to achieve full digital information management and flexible production capabilities.

After the factory begins operating, it is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 500,000 tons each year.

At the groundbreaking ceremony of the hydrogen energy heavy truck industrial chain project, AIC-IVECO HONGYAN Commercial Vehicle Company delivered hydrogen heavy trucks and vehicles to customers in Inner Mongolia.

It also signed an order for 200 hydrogen heavy trucks with GD Power Inner Mongolia New Energy Development Co, and another 300 pure electric heavy trucks with Baogang Ganglian Logistics Co.