Hanoi, Vietnam provided the backdrop for a preview for selected customers of Sendok Group as they attended the Sinotruk New Energy Partner Conference 2026, held 20 to 23 July. The conference marks Shandong Heavy Industry Group's first international conference dedicated exclusively to new energy vehicles outside China. It brought together partners from 62 countries to unveil the Group's global new energy strategy under a unified vision.
Handling the Sinotruk portfolio for Sendok Group, Ms Gwee Chin Hwee, Director made it the primary objective learn about the brand’s comprehensive new energy product portfolio and technological capabilities, while adapting its global strategic roadmap to meet Malaysia’s needs, product development direction and implementation plans. By attending the conference, she also aimed to align with the principal’s transformation strategy, promote green logistics solutions under the Belt and Road Initiative, and accelerate the low-carbon transition of the global commercial vehicle industry. As a platform, the event was held to strengthen strategic collaboration with partners across multiple markets, implementing tailored market development programmes in key countries such as Malaysia.
“We aligned with the strategic direction of Sendok Group offering a comprehensive range of services beyond heavy duty trucks. The conference demonstrated how to stablish an integrated ecosystem encompassing complete vehicles, charging infrastructure and aftermarket services,” she commented. Summing it up, she stated that in order to achieve economies of scale, Sendok Group is aiming at accelerating the large-scale deployment of new energy commercial vehicles across a wide range of operating applications.
Preparing for Launch of HOWO TX-EV
In particular, Sendok Group joined the event with the backdrop of their imminent introduction of the Sinotruk HOWO TX-EV series and the T3H e-Light to the Malaysian market. The Howo TX series, using diesel engines, has been carried by Sendok Group for more than ten years; and now they are introducing the EV line up of the series. The TX-EV series will include a full range of trucks including prime movers, dump trucks, cement mixer trucks, cargo and special purpose vehicles. The models to be imported by Sendok group will feature charging/ swapping options for the battery.
When designing these vehicles, Sinotruk considered that fleets would have to gradually make the change to electric propulsion. In consideration of this, the platforms were adapted, resulting in 57 percent parts similarities for the HOWO TX series. Commenting on this, Sendok group’s management pointed out that one of the strengths of the group is the ability to provide tailored product solutions.
Covering the mission profile requiring light duty trucks, the T3H model will be available in both, diesel and battery electric variants. While light duties are not the focus here of the series, this model will complement the Sinotruk truck range in Malaysia.
Inviting existing customers representing the mining, haulage and logistics industries to attend the partners conference and exhibition to preview the EV trucks line up, transporters could gather firsthand information on the Sinotruk- EV solutions. As part of the agenda, an knowledge exchange meeting was held between Sinotruk leaders and Sendok Group’s customers to exchange opinions, articulate market specific requirements and to gain a better understanding of market needs as well as the direction the OEM is taking with the product development.
Joining the event was Mr Lee Kheng Tek, General Manager, Sepadu Fleet Sdn Bhd. Already operating a small fleet of electric vans, his curiosity lay in seeing what new truck models Sinotruk would be introducing via Sendok Group as his company is aiming to rapidly increase the number of vehicles operating under their brand.
Asked about the experience of running a BEV fleet, Tek confirmed that the assumption that electric vehicles are offering a clear advantage through reduced service and maintenance cost. “Indeed, there are two profit drivers. First, while there is downtime, it is lesser than we have to factor in with ICE vehicles. Secondly, we can confirm that the services cost less as there are fewer parts that need fixing or replacing and there are lesser fluids that need to be dealt with during routine service,” he told Asian Trucker. Based on his experience and to leverage the established customer base, Sepadu Fleet is strategically positioning itself to capture opportunities in Sinotruk’s expanding BEV technology beyond its conventional ICE fleet solutions.