Steyr Automotive launches series production of the Etopas 600 electric truck with components from China and Europe

The Etopas 600 is designed for a gross vehicle weight of 42 tons and is said by the manufacturer to achieve a range of around 600 kilometers. According to the company, European suppliers include Schaeffler, ZF, Infineon, and Continental. Key drive elements come from China. "Aus China stammten unter anderem wesentliche Antriebselemente", the company stated. The combination of a Chinese technology platform with European manufacturing, validation, and service expertise is being deliberately pursued in order to address market requirements in Europe.

Manufacturer's position

Chao Liu, head of Superpanther — the Chinese commercial vehicle company affiliated with Steyr Automotive — articulated the project's ambition with a view to the European market. "Europa braucht keinen weiteren importierten Lkw. Europa braucht einen Industriepartner", Liu said. With the Etopas 600, the aim is not to offer a pure import solution, but to establish local manufacturing with European value creation. The customer test fleet has, according to the company, covered "seit März 2026 in Deutschland und Österreich im Realbetrieb mehr als 70.000 Kilometer", providing findings for series readiness.

Industry picture and market data

The German Federal Association of Road Haulage, Logistics and Waste Disposal (BGL) currently assesses the market opportunities for heavy electric trucks in Germany cautiously. "Das sei ein Grund, warum unter den schweren Lkw der Elektroanteil bei weniger als einem Prozent liege", BGL board member Dirk Engelhardt told the Deutsche Presse-Agentur. Engelhardt pointed to the still incomplete charging network for heavy E-trucks in Germany as a key hurdle for a faster ramp-up of electromobility in road freight transport.

Competitors and infrastructure

Alongside Steyr Automotive, established European manufacturers are also working on electric heavy-duty trucks. Mercedes-Benz (Daimler Truck), Volvo (Volvo AB), and MAN, part of the Volkswagen Group, are among the competitors in the heavy electric truck segment. According to industry observers, market penetration depends less on vehicle availability than on infrastructure. The build-out of a nationwide fast-charging network for 40-ton trucks is considered the decisive lever.

Testing and initial deliveries

Prior to series production, the Etopas 600 was tested under real-world conditions at logistics companies in Germany and Austria. The test fleet covered more than 70,000 kilometers in real operations since March 2026. According to the company, the results fed into the final series specification. The delivery of one of the first vehicles to DHL is also part of the market launch and is intended to provide reference data from daily logistics operations.

In the market environment, the initiation of coverage of semiconductor manufacturer Infineon by investment bank Jefferies & Company Inc. was also noted. On July 2, 2026, Jefferies rated Infineon with a "Buy" rating. Infineon is among the European suppliers for the Etopas 600. Industry observers see this as a signal that the electrification of heavy road freight transport is being viewed as a long-term growth driver for power electronics.

Outlook

For the coming months, Steyr Automotive plans a gradual ramp-up of production. The focus is on the availability of charging infrastructure and the willingness of fleet operators to procure heavy E-trucks in larger numbers. The BGL emphasizes at the same time that without a reliable fast-charging network along the main transport corridors, the share of electric trucks among heavy commercial vehicles will hardly grow beyond the current level of below one percent.

The Etopas 600 is thus entering a market in which both established European manufacturers and new cooperation models with Chinese technology are competing for orders. Industry experts see the Austrian-Chinese project as a test case for how hybrid value chains — Chinese drive technology plus European components and manufacturing — can be positioned in the European commercial vehicle market.