New product technical features:
1. New product development line reflects high-end, but the route is very different
Although the products in the heavy truck market appear to contend with each other, each company's product positioning and technical route vary according to the company's strategic development needs. The launch of new products is generally targeted at domestic high-end or high-end markets. There are generally three routes to their deployment:
The first route imports the powertrain. The product is positioned in the domestic high-end market, highlighting the reliability, load-carrying capacity and durability of the product. The configuration features of this model are the key components of the powertrain, brake system and steering system imported from abroad, priced at more than 400,000 yuan. For example, Dongfeng Tianlong and Hualingxing Kaima, etc., whose target markets are mainly users of European and American markets or domestic imported brands; users of modified vehicles such as mixer trucks and pump trucks; and inter-provincial long-distance logistics vehicle users;
The second line takes over the commanding heights of technology. The product is positioned in the domestic high-end market and highlights the technical, comfort, safety, light weight, and intelligence of the product. The configuration features of this product are that the main component assembly adopts domestic parts, air suspension, AMT (automatic transmission), and ABS. ASR TPM EBL, electronically controlled doors and windows, electronically controlled mirrors, CAN bus technology, GPS, etc., priced between 35-45 million, such as HOWO-A7, Liberation J6, etc., products mainly as a strategic product of the company, The target market is foreign developing country or domestic long-distance logistics vehicle users. Its market space is relatively small, and there will be room for growth in the future;
The third line attaches importance to product cost performance. The product is positioned in the domestic high-end and high-end products, highlighting the product's cost-effectiveness, reliability, stability, and bearing. The configuration features of this model are the selection of the best domestic components, such as powertrain, transmission system, brake system, and steering system. Brand engine (Shanghai Hino series, Cummins series, etc.), joint venture brand transmission (such as Eaton, Hangzhou ZF, etc.), Hande Axle, domestic ZF8098 steering gear, joint venture brand brake components, etc., priced at 25-35 million Among them, as the steam car Iveco Hongyan Jieshi GENLYION, its target market for the domestic mainstream market.
2. Flat-headed, supplemented by long heads
Once upon a time, the liberated long heavy truck was synonymous with long-distance transportation tools in China. It has always been in a monopolistic position of liberation. In recent years, major domestic automobile groups such as FAW Group and CNHTC Group have even concentrated on the latest competitors. The product development of Yu Ping Tou heavy truck is evident from the comparison of the launch of new products (see Table 1). The lack of a direct competitor for the liberation of long-haul tractors has made technology, comfort, etc. inferior to current flat-head heavy trucks, and consumers have no choice. However, since Dongfeng Liuzhou Automobile introduced the heavy-duty long-haul tractor Dongfeng Longka, aiming at the liberation of old rivals and challenging the competitive advantages of long-heavy trucks, the domestic long-distance car competition began to be filled with smoke, and on March 12th, Seiko voyages. Listing, thus adding long-distance car competition, to make up for the gap in the long high-end car.
Dongfeng Longka is positioned in the medium and low-end medium- and heavy-duty card market in China, with a power between 240-300 hp (176-220 kW). Zhenjiang Seiko voyage long-distance truck is positioned in the domestic high-end market. The vehicle is equipped with Hino, which meets the national 3 emission standards. P11-UJ (258kW) and Cummins ISME-345 (253kW) engines, ArvinMeritor heavy-duty axles and air suspension systems, standard ABS (anti-lock braking system) and ASR (actuated anti-skid system), automatic clearance adjustment Arms, eddy current retarder and other auxiliary braking systems, its configuration, performance compared with high-end flat car is no less. It is reported that in order to recapture the market share of long-haul cars, FAW Liberation is developing long cars. With the emphasis on safety and economy, North American-style long-wheel car market share will rebound.
3. Segmented market is more clear, products reflect a broad spectrum, serialization of ideas
At present, over 85% of the highways in the country have already imposed weight-based tolls, and some high-grade highways such as some national highways also implement weight-based tolls. With the increase in weight-based charges, overloading has been curbed. As engineering vehicles are generally not on the highway, weight-based charging policies have little impact, and overloading is still severe. As a result, the gap between road vehicles and non-road vehicles in the domestic heavy truck market has further widened, and road vehicles have gradually become lighter, higher-speed, higher-efficiency, and more comfortable, while engineering vehicles continue to maintain the bearing and reliability. And other properties.
Therefore, for the characteristics of the use of these two kinds of markets, each OEM has begun to make subdivisions in product design: the heavy load market and the standard load market.
Products that can adapt to the heavy-duty market can be defined as heavy-duty type, have strong carrying capacity, and are specially designed for bad road conditions, high load-bearing, high reliability, suitable for medium and short-distance heavy-duty transport markets and the transportation of special goods (precision electronic or dangerous goods). Its frame, front and rear axles, and suspensions have all been strengthened, such as the use of double girders, 9-ton front axles, wheel-side speed-reduction bridges, and multi-leaf spring suspensions.
Products adapted to the load-bearing market can be defined as a standard type, highlighting the characteristics of light weight and low center of gravity, meeting the national load-bearing and emission requirements, high-speed, high-efficiency, and high-reliability, suitable for toll-free tolls for highways, long-distance logistics transportation, and low-profile transportation. Container trailer transport. Its product features are single-layer girders, 7-ton front axles, single-stage reduction bridges, few leaf springs, or air suspensions (see Table 2).
In addition to the product target market is divided into heavy load type and standard load type, the product line also reflects the wide spectrum and serialization, the cab also shows two forms of narrow body and wide body, wide body cab also has high top, middle Top, flat top, row, half, single row, etc. Each new generation product is a high-top, two-bed tractor when it is on the market, but then the product line will quickly spread. The models include tractors, trucks, and dump trucks. In the mixer truck and other special vehicle markets, each vehicle model will be expanded in series according to driving style, power, wheelbase, and price configuration.
Tianlong series includes Tianlong road vehicles, Hercules non-road vehicles, and Tianjinzhongka series of narrow-body cabs; Liberation J6 is divided into luxury, standard, comfort, and reinforced type according to different tractors in the market. From the interval of 26.45 million yuan, in 2009, the J6 series wide body cab was 2490mm, and the narrow cab was 2250mm. The products were expanded to special vehicles such as dump trucks and mixer trucks. The models had already covered the entire heavy truck market; HOWOA7 was just listed. At the time, it was 2 basic types and 22 extended models. It is understood that its products are also expanding in terms of off-highway vehicles and will also introduce narrow-body cabs. When Valin Kemama was first launched, it covered the entire series, and the price ranged from 230,000 to 480,000 yuan. It could be said that the market was completely finished; Hongyan Jieshi Genelion, although it was a tractor, was famous for its domestic market with dump trucks. How can he not launch Jay Lion truck series!
4. New products are more comfortable, safer, smarter, and more human
The launch of each new product is advertised in terms of comfort, security, intelligence, and humanity, and the launch of each product is a new benchmark for established products. Especially in the cab interior and exterior, it is basically in line with European heavy trucks.
From Table 3, it can be seen that the cabin suspension of the driver's cab adopts airbag four-point suspension, the seat of the driver's cab is a gas spring suspension type, and the suspension system uses a small leaf spring air suspension. The comfort of the vehicle reaches a very ideal level. . Disc brakes are used for safety. The braking effect is even better. ABS ASR is also provided. HOWOA7 also adds EBL TPM with a higher level of safety. Humanized aspects of the cab interior are more in line with the driver’s needs. For example, in the entertainment system, Hualing Xing Kaima has a DVD, GPS, and other functional display systems. The HOWOA7's lower berth can also be used as a bar counter, and most of the intelligent devices use the CAN bus. Liberation J6 and HOWO-A7 also equipped with AMT transmission, more convenient to operate, electric doors and windows, electric exterior mirrors and other products reflect the intelligence of the product.
5. New product development towards multi-grade, high-power, large-displacement, high-speed
The new product has a certain increase in engine power, displacement, transmission gear, and maximum speed compared to older products.
It can be seen from Table 4 that the maximum displacement of new products of various manufacturers is between 11-13L, the maximum power is between 309-338kW, the maximum gear speed of the transmission is between 12 and 16 gears, and the maximum speed is mostly above 100km/h. Since the maximum speed of Liberation J6 has reached 120km/h, the introduction of these new products has fully proved the direction of multi-grade, high-power, large-displacement, and high-speed development.
Heavy truck rookies including Weichai Heavy Trucks, Guangzhou Automobile Hino, and Xugong Chunlan will also launch new products in the next year or two. This instills a hint of vitality and a spring breeze for the depressed heavy truck market.