More than 4,500 attendees gather at the SDHI Sinotruk 2026 Partners Conference held in Jinan, Shandong. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The nearly century-old Sinotruk is a nearly century-old subsidiary of Shandong Heavy Industry Group (SDHI) rooted in Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province. It has evolved from a car repair group with just 30 members in 1930 into a global leader in commercial vehicles.

On Dec 18, the SDHI Sinotruk 2026 Partners Conference was held in Jinan. It was the largest-ever Sinotruk partner conference to date, with more than 4,500 attendees and 200 commercial vehicles and assembly components on display. Over the decades, Sinotruk has grown into a world-renowned commercial vehicle giant and achieved major milestones.

This year, Sinotruk's total revenue is projected to exceed 225 billion yuan ($31.96 billion), a year-on-year increase of 17 percent. The total vehicle sales volume is expected to exceed 450,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 25 percent.

Among these, the company's heavy-duty vehicle production and sales have exceeded 300,000 units, ranking first in China's heavy-duty truck market for the fourth consecutive year. For the first time, the company has also topped the global heavy-duty truck market. It is projected to export over 150,000 heavy-duty trucks by the end of the year, reflecting an 11 percent increase from the previous year.

Over 100 types of trucks are on display during Sinotruk's open day event. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Sinotruk has gained independent control over core components like engines and gearboxes. In the field of new energy, it has developed three major technical routes: pure electric, hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cell, and built a comprehensive independent R&D system.

The company's products are sold in 150 countries and regions, with the heavy-duty truck export volume ranking first in China for 21 consecutive years. By 2030, Sinotruk aims to achieve revenue of 400 billion yuan and produce and sell 800,000 heavy-duty trucks.

Attendees can try Sinotruk's product on the spot. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Following the partner conference, an open day was held on Dec 21, featuring over 100 types of trucks. Gigantic mining trucks, sanitation vehicles, and refrigerated trucks closely related to daily life; fire trucks that provide safety; and cool recreational vehicles and F1 racing cars were displayed together, forming a real "world of trucks".

The event also served as a science exploration venue for children. In the exploration area, they could touch the precision engine models with their own hands, understand the "heartbeat" of a truck from professional explanations, and unlock the mysteries of mechanics in interactive games. It was more than a visit; it was a scientific journey that ignited curiosity.