Chinese truck maker SuperPanther launches European production in Austria
The Chinese electric truck manufacturer has started series production of its eTopas 600 at Steyr Automotive's plant in Austria. The first vehicles have already been delivered to customers in five European countries, marking the company's transition from pilot projects to commercial operations.
Chinese electric truck manufacturer SuperPanther has officially entered the next phase of its European expansion, launching series production of its eTopas 600 battery-electric heavy-duty truck at Steyr Automotive’s manufacturing facility in Austria.
The first production vehicles rolled off the assembly line on 27 July before being delivered to launch customers including DHL Freight, Gress Speditions, Temmel and LONTEX Group. According to the company, the trucks will initially operate in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic.
The start of production marks SuperPanther’s transition from vehicle validation and customer trials to full commercial operations in Europe, where the company is seeking to establish itself as a long-term player in the zero-emission truck market.
Local manufacturing at the core of European strategy
Rather than supplying the European market exclusively through vehicle exports, SuperPanther has chosen to partner with Steyr Automotive for final assembly, commissioning and quality assurance in Austria.
The company describes the approach as a way of combining its proprietary electric truck platform with European manufacturing expertise and industrial capabilities, while also strengthening its local service network.
“Europe doesn’t need another imported truck. It needs another industrial partner,” said Chao Liu, Founder and CEO of SuperPanther. “By combining our technology platform with European manufacturing, validation and service capabilities, we are building a European product together with Europe.”
Steyr Automotive Chairman Siegfried Wolf also stressed the importance of manufacturing quality, noting that every vehicle leaving the Austrian plant must comply with jointly defined quality standards before entering service.
The strategy reflects a broader trend among several Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturers, which are increasingly complementing vehicle exports with local industrial operations and partnerships as they expand their presence across Europe.
eTopas 600 targets long-haul operations
The eTopas 600 has been developed for heavy-duty transport applications and, according to SuperPanther, offers a driving range of around 600 km under European operating conditions.
The truck is claimed to achieve an average energy consumption of approximately 0.94 kWh/km and supports dual CCS2 fast charging, allowing the battery to be recharged from 20% to 80% in less than 38 minutes.
With series production now underway, SuperPanther says it will focus on expanding commercial operations, strengthening aftersales capabilities and supporting the deployment of its electric trucks across additional European markets.
