[First Commercial Vehicle Network Original]

Currently, as the new energy transformation of commercial vehicles enters the deep water zone, the dividends of policy-driven growth are gradually fading, and market-driven characteristics are becoming increasingly obvious. Facing the terminal users' extreme pursuit of cost reduction and efficiency enhancement, as well as complex and changeable operation scenarios, as a leader who once dominated the traditional internal combustion engine field, how did Yuchai cope with this profound revolution sweeping the industry?

At the recently opened 2026 Green Digital Intelligent Transportation Expo (Nanjing), Yuchai gave its own answer. This time, with the theme "Green Innovation Development, Digital Intelligence Leading the Future", Yuchai displayed 7 key products covering fuel, gas, extended range and other technology routes to the industry, showing its full-scenario power solutions based on the present and embracing the future.

Electricity is not a panacea; Yuchai moves on multiple tracks simultaneously

In the bus field, the penetration speed of new energy is staggering. According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, the new energy penetration rate of buses reached 33.9% in the first half of this year. In some sub-markets, the penetration rate of electric products even exceeded 50%. Facing this "rapid development" wave of pure electricity, Cai Zhi, Deputy Director of Bus Power Marketing of Yuchai Commercial Vehicle Power Division, seems quite calm: "The applicable boundary of pure electric tourist buses is actually the route within 500 km one-way, or the line where there are charging conditions in the scenic area. Beyond this range or in charging blank areas, the advantages of fuel vehicles in availability and convenience are irreplaceable, especially in the field of 12 meters and above large buses, currently traditional power still dominates." 

Cai Zhi, Deputy Director of Bus Power Marketing of Yuchai Commercial Vehicle Power Division

Based on this clear understanding of market boundaries, Yuchai launched a combination of moves at this exhibition. Yuchai displayed a total of 4 traditional power and 3 new energy products (2 extended range, 1 pure electric). Traditional power fully covers 5-13 meter buses from 2.4L to 16L displacement; new energy covers pure electric, extended range and hydrogen energy. This strategy of "traditional and new energy moving on multiple tracks simultaneously" not only shows Yuchai's precise control of diversified market needs, but also reflects its calmness and determination during the industry transformation period.

The richness of the product matrix is the cornerstone of strategy implementation, and the real market attack relies on the hard core strength of flagship products.

Directly hit pain points; three elite troops show their skills

At this Expo, the Yuchai booth was crowded with stars. From the motor and electronic control two-in-one system focusing on light truck logistics, to the YCK11 series diesel engine focusing on the tractor market, Yuchai responded to the severe challenges of different scenarios with multiple technology routes. Among them, K09L, K08N and K16N three products were particularly eye-catching.

For the 12-meter high-end tourism passenger transport market, the new generation K09L diesel engine was undoubtedly the focus of the whole Yuchai booth. For the operating costs that users value most, K09L achieved excellent performance with comprehensive fuel consumption as low as 20 liters per 100 km and 18 liters in high-speed conditions through high combustion pressure, high-efficiency turbocharger and low friction design, directly helping users save real money. Even more amazing is its "weight". As the lightest weight and smallest volume 9-liter engine in the industry, its weight reduction compared to competitors of the same displacement is 10%-20%. Coupled with a peak torque of up to 400 horsepower (standard power) and 2000 Nm, even in plateau mountainous areas with many slopes and sharp bends such as Guizhou and Northwest, it can maintain powerful power output without attenuation. Currently, the cumulative sales of this model have exceeded 1,000 units, equipped with mainstream original equipment manufacturers such as Yutong and King Long, and the longest mileage has exceeded 100,000 km.

 YCK09L Diesel Engine

In the gas and new energy transition field, the K08N 170kW extended range power system showed Yuchai's integration ingenuity. The system adopts a highly integrated design of flywheel motor and engine, and the power generation efficiency is as high as 5.2kWh/kg. Intelligent control strategy takes into account economy and comfort, and thoroughly solves the range anxiety and battery cost pressure faced by many pure electric buses. 

YCK08N 170kW Extended Range Power System

While in the large displacement long-haul trunk line logistics and bulk transportation scenarios, the YCK16LN natural gas engine shouldered the flag of green efficiency. The displacement of 15.5L can output powerful power of 590-660 horsepower. This model improves availability by 10% relying on "reverse flow" cooling technology and super material; its low-temperature anti-icing patent ensures the vehicle can start easily at minus 40 degrees; matching high compression ratio piston and Miller cycle, the whole vehicle gas consumption is greatly reduced, which can help users earn more than 20,000 RMB annually.

 YCK16LN Natural Gas Engine

“To beat iron, you need to be strong yourself”, products with full-scenario coverage ability are the foundation. However, in the current era of global competition and fierce internal competition, only by basing on domestic and looking at the world can one walk steadily and go far.

Dual-wheel drive high-endization, from product export to standard output

Facing the two major opportunities of high-endization of domestic tourism passenger transport and accelerated overseas exports, Yuchai's market strategy is clear and determined. Cai Zhi introduced that domestically, Yuchai insists on the "dual-wheel drive of high-endization and new energy". On the one hand, focus on large horsepower high-end buses, launch K09L 2.0 version and K11 2.0 version to seize the high-end tourism and official reception market; on the other hand, plan 12L gas engine (K12N) for areas with gas price advantages such as Xinjiang. In addition, for 11-12 meter long-distance or commuter buses, Yuchai is jointly developing "small engine + large motor + moderate battery" extended range products with original equipment manufacturers such as Yutong, expected to be launched in early 2027. He revealed that the future Yuchai K12 platform will also launch 450 horsepower products, matching 13.7 meter high-end large buses, expected to appear next year.

Overseas, Yuchai has taken a path of leap from "simply selling products" to "outputting technical standards". In the Middle East market, Yuchai bus power stock exceeds 30,000 units, share exceeds 70% (Saudi Arabia is close to 90%). Through localization services, deeply binding scenarios such as Hajj tourism, sitting in the first brand. In Southeast Asia, the Thailand factory has been in stable mass production, and the Vietnam factory has an annual planned capacity of 40,000 units. Cai Zhi stated that Yuchai not only carries out technology licensing output in Vietnam, Turkey and other places, but also drives the overall overseas expansion of the Guangxi parts industry chain, achieving a gorgeous turn from selling products to providing system solutions and outputting technical standards.

Conclusion

The wave of new energy is surging, but the evolution of internal combustion engines has never stopped. From the ultimate efficiency of K09L, to the breakthrough of K08N extended range, to the systematic output of the overseas market, what Yuchai showed at the 2026 Nanjing Transport Expo is the calmness and confidence of a mature power brand facing industry changes. Whether it is policy driven or market choice, Yuchai always puts the focus on "creating value for customers". On the dual-track road of parallel operation of traditional and new energy, Yuchai is injecting strong momentum for the green and efficient development of the global commercial vehicle industry with continuously iterated hard-core technology.