The Chinese offensive is set to hit IAA

From next Monday, when the famous international show in Hanover opens its doors, the Chinese could well make a big splash. We have already told you about the various manufacturers arriving in Europe; well, the giant Foton will also be there…

And the Chinese manufacturer has clearly not planned to play a supporting role for its first appearance at IAA Transportation. With a space of more than 1,000 m², seven vehicles on display and several in-house technologies, Foton intends to show European brands that they will now have to reckon with it.

Trucks intended for long-distance transport, urban distribution vehicles, batteries, electric powertrains or ultra-high-power charging systems: the group will arrive in Hanover with an impressive catalogue of solutions dedicated to new energies.

The CAVAN BEACON in a world premiere

The main attraction of the stand will be the CAVAN BEACON, unveiled to the public for the first time. This heavy-duty vehicle intended for long-distance transport will rely on electric and hydrogen solutions.

Beyond this new model, the group will present six components developed by its own engineering departments. High-capacity batteries, electrified axles, management electronics and megawatt charging will be part of the demonstration. Foton thus wants to prove that it is not simply assembling vehicles, but also masters a growing part of their technology.

Foton is preparing its European presence

The brand is not coming to Hanover simply to exhibit its trucks. It will use the show to detail its development plan in Europe.

Its ambition is to build a genuine local ecosystem capable of ensuring the commercialisation of the vehicles, their maintenance, the supply of spare parts and support for hauliers. Foton already has a spare parts distribution centre in Unna, Germany, in order to reduce supply times and reassure future operators.

Because this is precisely where the new arrivals will be expected to deliver. An attractive price and an appealing technical specification are not enough in road transport. The quality of the network, the availability of spare parts and the ability to quickly put a truck back on the road will carry just as much weight in companies’ decisions.

To prepare for its arrival, Foton already has European WVTA approvals and certified data according to the VECTO procedure. In other words, the manufacturer is moving forward with the intention of actually selling its vehicles in our markets, and not simply carrying out a technological demonstration as was the case in the past.

Figures that make your head spin

The group’s industrial power also deserves attention. Foton relies on 32 production sites and claims more than 1,200 sales outlets as well as 1,500 workshops or service centres worldwide.

Between January and August 2026, its shipments outside China reached 149,000 vehicles, up 44.3% compared with the same period of the previous year. In Hanover, the brand will also celebrate the delivery of its 13 millionth vehicle.

These volumes make it easier to measure the scale of the phenomenon. Long regarded with some distance by the established manufacturers, Chinese groups now have the financial, industrial and technological means needed to accelerate their conquest of Europe.

It remains to be seen whether their trucks will be able to convince hauliers over the long term, particularly in terms of fuel consumption, reliability, residual value and after-sales service. One thing is certain: this year, in Hanover, the Chinese offensive will be impossible to ignore.