Shacman’s New Energy Heavy-Duty Truck Smart Factory: Driving Intelligent Manufacturing & Shaanxi’s Auto Industry Growth

Even as the “Beginning of Autumn” solar term passes, the heat of innovation remains intense at Shaanxi Automobile Holding Group Co., Ltd. (Shacman)’s New Energy Heavy-Duty Truck Smart Production Base in Xi’an Economic and Technological Development Zone. Step into its final assembly workshop, and a vivid scene of modern intelligent manufacturing unfolds—setting a benchmark for China’s new energy commercial vehicle sector.

Smart Production: Where Efficiency Meets Precision

At the heart of Shacman’s manufacturing revolution lies cutting-edge automation, redefining how heavy-duty trucks are built:

·Driverless AGV Robots: “Driverless” AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) intelligent handling robots glide along invisible magnetic tracks, shuttling flexibly between workstations to deliver materials with pinpoint accuracy, eliminating manual errors and streamlining logistics.

·Automated Cab Transfer: Guided by the PBS intelligent scheduling system, heavy-duty truck cabs are automatically transported to designated workstations via an overhead EMS (Electric Monorail System) to await assembly—ensuring a smooth, orderly workflow with zero bottlenecks.

·One-Click Fluid Filling: A simple tap on an electronic device triggers the “five-in-one” integrated fluid filling process, delivering brake fluid, coolant, lubricating oil, and other essential fluids to the vehicle in one efficient step, cutting down on operation time significantly.

“Intelligence is our core driver,” said Ji Xiang, Senior Deputy Business Manager of Shacman’s General Assembly Plant. The base focuses on the automotive industry’s trends of electrification, lightweighting, intelligentization, and sharing. By adopting industry-leading new process models, it has built an intelligent production line system with independent intellectual property rights.

Today, the facility stands as a leading benchmark for new energy heavy-duty truck manufacturing in China. It has achieved “ergonomic automation” for 50 core processes—including front and rear axle assembly, frame flipping, powertrain integration, cab installation, and tire fitting—with an annual capacity of 50,000 heavy-duty truck chassis and 100,000 cab assemblies. The result? A new energy heavy-duty truck rolls off the production line every 288 seconds on average.

Strengthening the Supply Chain: Local Innovation Drives Global Competitiveness

Shacman’s commitment to intelligent manufacturing extends beyond its own factory walls, fueling growth in the local supply chain:

·Xi’an Zhide Auto Electronics: In 2019, Shacman partnered with Changzhou Yikong Auto Electronics Co., Ltd. to establish Xi’an Zhide Auto Electronic Control System Co., Ltd., focusing on commercial vehicle e-drive systems. The joint venture has built a complete R&D and supporting system for new energy commercial vehicle powertrain products, boosting the local core component supporting rate.

“We’ve developed three product lines: Zhiqu (motors), Zhikong (electronic controls), and Zhihe (assemblies),” said Guo Gangjian, Director of Production and Manufacturing at Xi’an Zhide. “While ensuring Shacman’s new energy heavy-duty trucks have independent and controllable e-drive systems, we also provide complete e-drive system solutions to the industry.” Driven by Shacman’s leadership, the company’s output value exceeded 210 million yuan (≈USD 29.2 million) in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 90%.

·Xi’an Cummins Engine Co., Ltd.: The production lines for engine supporting products here are bustling with activity. “In the first half of this year, we produced over 17,000 engines, a year-on-year increase of 50.52%, and orders keep growing,” said Hu Zhongjun, Factory Director. “We’re also keeping pace with Shacman’s global expansion by developing 10L and 13L engine products that meet Euro III and Euro V emission standards, helping Shacman heavy-duty trucks enter international markets.”

Shaanxi’s Auto Industry: A Pillar of Growth with National Influence

Shacman’s success is part of a broader boom in Shaanxi Province’s automotive industry, which has emerged as a key pillar of the local economy:

·2024 Performance: Shaanxi produced 1.754 million vehicles in 2024, joining China’s first tier of auto-producing regions. The total output value of the auto industry chain exceeded 440 billion yuan (≈USD 61.4 billion), with the local comprehensive supporting rate rising to 57%.

·2025 H1 Growth: In the first half of 2025, vehicle production in Shaanxi reached 942,800 units, a year-on-year increase of 25.18%. The combined output value of the new energy passenger vehicle chain and heavy-duty commercial vehicle chain hit 316.944 billion yuan (≈USD 44.1 billion), accounting for 27.66% of the total output value of the province’s 34 industrial chains.

“Shaanxi’s vehicle production has grown year by year, and new energy vehicle output has hit record highs, ranking among the top in China—showing a strong momentum of growth in both quantity and quality,” said Du Junguo, Director of the Automobile Industry Department of Shaanxi Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology.

As Shacman continues to lead China’s new energy heavy-duty truck sector forward, its smart factory and supply chain ecosystem are not just driving local economic growth—they are also positioning Chinese intelligent manufacturing for greater success on the global stage. Stay tuned for more updates on Shacman’s innovation journey.