Chinese electric trucks enter Swiss fleet as Hugelshofer adds Sany and SuperPanther models
Swiss logistics operator Hugelshofer has added two Chinese-brand electric trucks to its fleet: a Sany e263 and a SuperPanther eTopas 600. The vehicles, numbered 86 and 87 in the company's electric fleet, will be assessed in daily operations alongside trucks from established European manufacturers.
Swiss transport company Hugelshofer Logistik has put two new battery-electric trucks into operation, marking the arrival of Chinese manufacturers Sany and SuperPanther in its fleet.
The vehicles are a Sany e263, manufactured in Changsha, China, and a SuperPanther eTopas 600, assembled at Steyr Automotive’s plant in Austria. According to Hugelshofer, the Sany is the first truck of its brand to enter service in Switzerland. The two vehicles bring the company’s electric truck fleet to 87 units.
Sany and SuperPanther to be tested against European trucks
Hugelshofer has already accumulated extensive experience with electric trucks from European manufacturers. The company now intends to compare the Chinese models under real operating conditions.
Its assessment will focus on driving range, energy consumption, reliability, ease of operation, service quality and total cost of ownership (TCO).
The operator emphasised that the initiative is not intended to replace European manufacturers, but to evaluate different technological solutions on their merits.
According to the company, the growing presence of Chinese truck manufacturers could encourage innovation, broaden the range of available technologies and improve the economics of electric transport.
Hugelshofer targets a fully electric fleet by 2035
Hugelshofer introduced its first fully electric truck in 2020 and has since expanded its battery-electric operations significantly. Its electric fleet has now covered more than 13 million km, completing approximately 68,000 charging sessions. The company estimates that its electrification activities have avoided more than 10,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
In 2024, Hugelshofer also inaugurated a major electric truck charging facility in Frauenfeld, Switzerland. The company aims to electrify its entire truck fleet by 2035.
