DFAC RATT

DFAC RATT is a Chinese new energy commercial vehicle brand established in 2017 by the New Energy Business Division of Dongfeng Automobile Co., Ltd., headquartered in Xiangyang, Hubei Province. Formed as a joint venture between Dongfeng Automobile Co., Ltd. (DFAC) and Xi'an New Youth Holding Group Co., Ltd., the brand serves as DFAC's strategic arm in pursuing sustainable and energy-efficient development. Guided by its brand vision of "Economy, Efficiency, Eco-friendliness, and Safety", it focuses on fully electric urban logistics and delivery commercial vehicles. The brand emblem features a circular blue backdrop enclosed by a metallic frame, with an artistic interpretation of a swallow's tail in mid-flight at its centre; the two interconnected swallow tails form an elegant, dancing silhouette, symbolising the auspicious motif of "twin swallows dancing in the east wind". As a pivotal initiative by Dongfeng Motor in the new energy commercial vehicle arena, DFAC RATT draws upon Dongfeng's six decades of commercial vehicle manufacturing expertise alongside New Youth's extensive operational experience in purpose-built electric vehicles, dedicated to delivering green and efficient transport solutions for urban logistics across China.

Development History

The inception of the DFAC RATT brand coincided with a major boom in China's commercial new energy vehicle market. In 2015, Xi'an New Youth Holding Group Co., Ltd. ventured into the purpose-built new energy vehicle sector, driven by modern management strategies and cutting-edge EV technology. Having entered the automotive industry in 2003, Xi'an New Youth steadily grew into Shaanxi Province's largest operator of purpose-built new energy vehicles, China's largest operator of hydrogen fuel commercial vehicles, and the nation's top-selling new energy logistics vehicle sales and service provider in 2017.

Recognising the surging nationwide demand for electric commercial vehicles within the logistics sector, Xi'an New Youth partnered with DFAC's New Energy Business Division in 2017 to launch DFAC RATT—a dedicated new energy commercial vehicle sub-brand. More than just a standalone Dongfeng venture, the brand brings together the combined strengths of DFAC and Xi'an New Youth, establishing a synergistic balance between complete vehicle manufacturing heritage and frontline commercial fleet operations.

In April 2018, DFAC RATT officially debuted its model line-up at the 8th Western China International Logistics Industry Expo and subsequently initiated nationwide dealer recruitment. Ahead of the official commercial rollout, New Youth Holding Group rapidly expanded its network of authorised dealerships across key provinces and cities, securing over 2,200 advance bookings across 10 provincial-level regions nationwide. On the evening of 28 July 2018, the brand staged the grand nationwide launch of the DFAC RATT EM30-RTT in Xi'an, themed "Glorious Arrival, Extraordinary", attended by over 100 dealer and service network representatives alongside more than 200 mainstream media outlets. That same year, the brand introduced the DFAC RATT EM10, an entry-level fully electric panel van engineered specifically for urban last-mile delivery.

In 2021, the brand rolled out an upgraded DFAC RATT EM30 to further consolidate its footprint in the urban electric delivery segment. DFAC RATT set a target from 2018 to 2020 to achieve a cumulative production and sales volume of 30,000 units and generate RM10,000,000,000 in sales revenue, alongside plans to launch 6 purpose-built new energy commercial models across logistics, municipal sanitation, cold-chain transport, and warehousing, covering both fully electric and hydrogen fuel cell powertrains. As of 2026, DFAC RATT's primary product portfolio comprises the EM10 and EM30, alongside upcoming models such as the EM13 in the pipeline.

Brand Portfolio / Model Line-up

Specialising exclusively in new energy commercial vehicles, DFAC RATT offers an array of fully electric panel vans across multiple payload categories, tailored for urban distribution, last-mile logistics, cold-chain transport, and warehousing operations.

The DFAC RATT EM30-RTT serves as the brand's flagship offering, tailored for urban freight distribution and same-day intra-city courier duties. Featuring a European Sprinter-style body structure, it measures 5,400 mm in length, 1,995 mm in width, and 2,360 mm in height, with a 3,250 mm wheelbase, an 8 m³ cargo hold, and a rated payload capacity of 1,600 kg (including 3 occupants). The van offers generous cargo room, effortless drivability, and a modern exterior, making it ideal for high-volume cargo transport and courier services. It carries an official starting price of RM259,800, with a post-subsidy nationwide retail price of RM179,800.

The DFAC RATT EM10 is the brand's entry-level electric logistics van, purpose-built for smart last-mile urban deliveries. It measures 4,150 mm in length, 1,620 mm in width, and 1,905 mm in height, riding on a 2,700 mm wheelbase with a 3.9 m³ cargo volume and a maximum payload capacity of 940 kg. Up front, it features a sleek enclosed front grille accented by distinctive blue detailing for a clean, professional aesthetic. Serving as an agile urban runabout, it benefits from exemption from traffic restrictions and road access limits alongside free municipal parking privileges, making it well suited for high-frequency short-haul courier and supermarket distribution routes. Prices start from RM79,800.

The DFAC RATT EM13 is an upcoming heavy-duty commercial van currently in development, engineered specifically for refrigerated cold-chain transport and heavy warehousing logistics. While not yet officially launched, it has already been listed on the official regulatory vehicle catalogue. Moving forward, the brand plans to unveil further bespoke commercial vehicles powered by pure electric and hydrogen fuel cell systems for municipal sanitation and warehousing duties, catering to a broader spectrum of commercial transport needs.

Market Performance

Backed by targeted market positioning and capable product performance, DFAC RATT quickly secured strong traction and widespread adoption across the logistics sector upon its initial launch. Prior to its commercial debut, the brand had already appointed 9 authorised dealers and amassed over 2,200 confirmed bookings across 10 provinces and municipalities nationwide. Within just 10 days of its official launch, total orders neared the 3,000-unit mark, reflecting robust commercial interest from courier and logistics fleet operators.

On the distribution front, DFAC RATT leveraged New Youth Holding Group's market dominance in the electric logistics sector—a group that led nationwide sales for commercial new energy vehicles in 2017 and maintained an established network of over 60 authorised dealers across China. Furthermore, Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle's nationwide footprint of over 800 service centres provided comprehensive aftersales and maintenance support, establishing a seamless, full-fledged sales and service ecosystem.

In terms of real-world utility, the DFAC RATT EM30-RTT rapidly carved out a solid niche in the commercial panel van market, thanks to its substantial 8 m³ load area, a 306 km driving range, an impressive 1,600 kg payload capacity, and strategic fleet partnerships with industry giants like SF Express and JD Logistics. Meanwhile, the compact EM10 earned strong market acceptance in last-mile urban logistics courtesy of its nimble footprint and accessible acquisition costs. By 2026, DFAC RATT had firmly established a unique competitive proposition defined by "long range and low operating costs" in the commercial transport sector.

Core Technology

DFAC RATT's proprietary technology is built around the core electric powertrain triad—battery, electric motor, and electronic control unit (ECU)—delivering a compelling blend of operating efficiency and practical driving range.

Powertrain: The EM30-RTT is driven by a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) producing a rated output of 50 kW, a peak power of 100 kW, and a maximum torque of 600 Nm. The powertrain achieves an energy conversion efficiency of over 96%, placing it at the forefront of the commercial segment. This robust output easily handles heavy-duty urban logistics even when fully laden, delivering a top speed of 100 km/h and a maximum gradeability of 20%. The EM10 also employs a high-efficiency, high-torque PMSM setup, clocking a 0–100 km/h acceleration time in under 15 seconds and reaching a top speed of 90 km/h, well suited to stop-start city driving.

Battery System: The EM30-RTT packs a 65.5 kWh ternary lithium-ion battery pack with an energy density of 125 Wh/kg—comfortably exceeding standard regulatory benchmarks—offering an operational range of 306 km to outpace the contemporary industry average of 200 km. At steady cruising speeds, the range extends beyond 440 km, effectively eliminating range anxiety during daily delivery rounds. Additionally, the battery pack incorporates a built-in pre-heating thermal management system engineered for cold climates, preserving charging rates, discharge performance, and range in freezing winter temperatures.

Energy Efficiency & Recuperation: The DFAC RATT EM30-RTT consumes ≤ 21.8 kWh per 100 km, resulting in an running cost of approximately RM0.10 per kilometre—substantially lower than that of conventional internal combustion commercial vans. The vehicle also features a regenerative braking system that automatically harvests kinetic energy under deceleration to top up the traction battery, extending overall range. For charging, it supports both AC slow charging and DC fast charging, the latter enabling a full recharge in 2.5 hours.

Safety & Equipment: Safety equipment on the DFAC RATT EM30-RTT includes an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), paired with front disc and rear drum brakes to guarantee confident stopping power even under maximum payload. All variants come standard with a battery thermal management system and regenerative braking for enhanced safety, durability, and efficiency. The vehicle is backed by a 3-year or 100,000 km manufacturer warranty, while the core electric drive components (battery, motor, and ECU) are covered by a 5-year or 200,000 km warranty for added fleet reliability.

Overseas Expansion

International markets were not an immediate strategic priority during DFAC RATT's founding phase. The brand primarily focused on addressing China's domestic demand for green urban logistics, retailing and operating through Xi'an New Youth Holding Group's extensive domestic dealer network. As of 2026, DFAC RATT's international footprint remains in an exploratory stage with limited direct overseas activity. Official records indicate that the brand has not yet established overseas manufacturing plants, dedicated R&D facilities, or large-scale complete-vehicle export channels. While the global expansion of Chinese logistics firms along "Belt and Road" corridors could pave the way for export growth, no significant overseas volume has been recorded to date. Any international rollout is expected to progress gradually in tandem with the broader global push of China's commercial new energy vehicle sector.

Future Outlook

DFAC RATT faces both promising opportunities and competitive challenges ahead. Under its original blueprint, the brand targeted cumulative sales of 30,000 units and revenue of RM10,000,000,000 between 2018 and 2020, backed by the introduction of 6 dedicated commercial models across battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell platforms. From 2021 to 2023, the focus shifted towards optimising its industrial footprint, accelerating the introduction of purpose-built urban commercial EVs, and boosting in-house R&D capabilities. In an increasingly competitive and fast-evolving commercial EV landscape, DFAC RATT aims to maintain its edge by combining DFAC's complete vehicle manufacturing prowess with New Youth Holding's established customer base and distribution channels.

As the industry pivots towards greater electrification and digital connectivity, DFAC RATT is poised to fast-track its development in extended-range capabilities, ultra-fast charging, and smart telematics. Amid stricter emissions standards and rising demand for green logistics, DFAC RATT's pure electric van line-up remains well positioned to capture substantial bulk procurement orders from tier-one logistics and courier firms across intra-city express, e-commerce fulfilment, and dedicated cold-chain routes. Moving forward, the brand aims to round out its model portfolio, expedite the production rollout of planned vehicles like the EM13, and solidify its differentiated standing in urban electric delivery. With commercial EV adoption rates steadily climbing in China, DFAC RATT is well equipped to continue delivering dependable, zero-emission commercial transport solutions anchored by its brand DNA of "Economy, Efficiency, and Eco-friendly Reliability".