Sany aims to make a mark in Europe with long-haul electric truck

Sany is no stranger in Europe. The Chinese company is active here mainly with construction machinery and heavy-duty vehicles. In China, it is the country’s largest manufacturer of heavy machinery. Since acquiring German concrete pump specialist Putzmeister in 2012, Germany has served as an important European base, with sites in Bedburg and Aichtal.

With its Sany eTrucks division, the company now wants to establish itself in the electric commercial vehicle market. The unit carries the label “supported by Putzmeister”, underlining its European focus. Putzmeister is responsible for customer support and service infrastructure across Europe. To launch its new e-trucks, Sany is also teaming up with Alltrucks, the multi-brand workshop specialist, which will handle maintenance, diagnostics and repairs for Sany’s electric trucks in Europe.

Competitive specs on paper

Turning to the technical details of the new e263: the model is powered by a dual-motor electric axle delivering 420 kW continuous and 730 kW peak output. Torque is listed at 1,000 Nm, with a peak of 1,760 Nm. While Sany does not name the supplier, it confirms the truck runs on an 800-volt system architecture. Energy comes from a 636-kWh LFP battery, said to enable “more than 500 kilometres of range.” The supplier is not disclosed either, though reports mention a deal with battery specialist EVE Energy for a Chinese variant using the same capacity pack.

Either way, the e263 looks more than competitive on paper. Compared with the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 – one of the most in-demand long-haul electric trucks today – the numbers are close. The eActros 600 offers 400 kW continuous and 600 kW peak output with a 621-kWh LFP pack for at least 500 kilometres of range. Sany, however, has the edge in peak performance.

Dimensions of the tractor unit are listed at 6.64 x 2.54 x 3.87 metres, with a wheelbase of four metres. Unladen weight comes in at 10.9 tonnes, while gross train weight is 42 tonnes. Charging starts with a CCS port offering up to 400 kW, with megawatt charging via MCS to follow later.

Choice of power take-offs

Sany also highlights three selectable power take-off options. First, an mPTO – a separate 45 kW e-motor for continuous output, e.g. to power hydraulic or mechanical equipment on the move. Second, a gPTO – a gearbox PTO with 210 kW output for tipping, walking-floor or silo trailers. Third, an ePTO (AC or DC) for applications such as refrigerated trailers.

According to the company, deliveries of the e263 will begin in Q1 2026 with the 4×2 standard version presented here. More variants will follow by the end of 2026. Sany does not specify production locations in its European announcement, but stresses that it already has more than 40,000 electric tractor units in operation worldwide. It also points out that “many installed safety assistance systems go beyond the legal requirements of GSR2 aiming for zero accidents and stable operations.”

Sany has not revealed pricing but says investment in the e263 is only “slightly higher investments than purchasing diesel driven trucks.” The company also claims “the best total cost of ownership” among current electric trucks in Europe, promising “the fastest payback of all electric trucks currently offered in the European market.”

The Alltrucks service network is expected to provide around 700 workshops across Europe, while Putzmeister will support operations with its own spare parts warehouse in Germany. Sany also seeks to build trust with “24/7 roadside assistance, OTA & telematic diagnosis and full-service contracts ranging from 6 to 10 years will minimise unplanned workshop visits.”

Electric long-haul trucks complement construction vehicles

Kevin Eichele, Head of Product and Business Development at SANY eTrucks Europe, commented: “This launch builds on the proven success of SANY’s 8×4 408P (Gen1) and e435 (Gen2) electric chassis, which is already setting new standards in European heavy-duty construction segment with its advanced technology, impressive TCO, and reliability. By offering both the new 4×2 e263 and established 8×4 e435 electric models, SANY eTrucks supported by Putzmeister provides European fleet operators with tailored solutions for a wide variety of applications.”

It’s worth recalling: Sany and Putzmeister presented the 8×4 e435 at Bauma in Germany this spring. The construction vehicle comes with a 350-kWh battery, 405 kW peak power and a range of around 300 kilometres. With a curb weight of 12 tonnes and multiple body options, the e435 is designed for diverse use cases. Depending on configuration, gross weight reaches up to 38 tonnes. One example shown at Bauma was Putzmeister’s second-generation iOntron eMischer, an all-electric concrete mixer based on the Sany e435 8×4.

sany-trucks.com, sanyglobal-img.sany.com.cn (PDF), sany-trucks.com (PDF)

This article was first published by Cora Werwitzke for electrive’s German edition.