Since the beginning of 2026, the competitive landscape of China's new energy light truck market has been quietly shifting.

　　In January, SAIC Yuejin topped the new energy light truck sales charts with 1,671 units sold, capturing a 16% market share and achieving a remarkable 314% year-on-year growth. In February, despite the overall NEV light truck market experiencing both month-on-month and year-on-year declines due to the Lunar New Year holiday, SAIC Yuejin still delivered 1,221 units, a 205% increase over the previous year. This made it the only brand among the top three in the industry to maintain positive growth with a triple-digit percentage increase.

　　As a pioneer in China's domestic light truck industry, Yuejin was once a household name in the 1970s and 1980s, known for the saying, "As distance tests a horse's stamina, so time reveals Yuejin's quality." Now, amidst the wave of new energy transformation, this established light truck brand with deep roots is transitioning from being a "dark horse" to a true "market leader."

Product Breakthrough: Precisely Addressing Pain Points Across All New Energy Logistics Scenarios

　　The most direct driver of SAIC Yuejin's sales surge is its products' ability to respond to market pain points.

　　SAIC Yuejin has built a product matrix featuring three series: "Danai," "Chaoyue," and "Fuxing." This portfolio covers everything from small trucks to light trucks across all tonnage classes, and addresses a wide range of applications including urban delivery, cold chain, and sanitation, with both traditional fuel and new energy options available.

　　The "Danai T" series, developed to tackle urban delivery challenges, is its core best-seller. The flagship Danai T1 model is equipped with CATL's Tianxing L battery, supporting 2C fast charging that can replenish the battery from 20% to 80% in just 18 minutes. With a CLTC range exceeding 380 kilometers, it effectively alleviates range and charging anxiety.

　　For specific scenarios, the Danai T2 and T3 models target express logistics and flexible urban delivery, respectively. They offer a spacious 18.3 cubic meter cargo box and a low-loading floor design to enhance loading efficiency. Furthermore, they provide a forward-looking option for semi-solid-state batteries to meet the customized needs of various high-frequency fleet operators.

Systematic Approach: Transitioning from Selling Vehicles to Selling an Ecosystem

　　SAIC Yuejin's recent counter-trend growth is inseparable from the deep integration of SAIC Motor's commercial vehicle division.

　　In 2025, SAIC Motor initiated a restructuring of its commercial vehicle operations, bringing brands like Maxus, Yuejin, and Iveco under a unified system. At the Ecosystem Partners Conference in January this year, Yang Huaijing, Chairman of the SAIC Commercial Vehicle Executive Committee and General Manager of SAIC Maxus, clearly stated that the three brands are undergoing deep integration with the goal of becoming a "global leader in light commercial vehicles."

　　This "united front" strategy means Yuejin is no longer operating alone. Key benefits include:

　　Technology Sharing: Core new energy and intelligent technologies are shared across brands, significantly reducing R&D costs and development cycles. This allows Yuejin to rapidly transform the group's technological reserves into competitive products. In manufacturing, Yuejin benefits from the quality and capacity of SAIC Maxus's Davos Lighthouse Factory.

　　Supply Chain Security: The strategic partnership between SAIC Commercial Vehicle and CATL, focused on "joint technology development, ecosystem co-construction, and global collaboration," not only gave birth to the Danai T1's leading fast-charging technology but also ensures Yuejin has extremely stable production capacity, even during periods of supply chain volatility for chips and batteries.

　　Business Model Redesign: Industry data shows that since 2025, B-end purchases (by logistics companies, platform firms, etc.) have accounted for over 60% of new energy light truck sales. These B-end clients are no longer solely focused on the base vehicle price; they prioritize reliability, total cost of ownership (TCO), and customization capabilities.

　　SAIC Yuejin has seized this trend and is accelerating its transformation into a "transport capacity solution provider." Leveraging the SAIC Maxus system, Yuejin provides direct freight order support to vehicle owners through the "Lingju Transport" platform, complemented by diverse financial schemes to lower the barrier to entry, creating a complete business loop from "purchase to operation to wealth creation."

Deepening the Aftermarket: Rebuilding Supply Chains and Expanding Channel Reach

　　In the commercial vehicle sector, a sale is just the beginning of the business relationship; after-sales support and maintenance speed directly impact a user's operational efficiency and repurchase intent.

　　To support its rapidly growing vehicle parc, SAIC Yuejin has invested heavily in its aftermarket infrastructure. By the end of 2025, SAIC Yuejin had established a dense network of 21 parts distribution centers across the country, covering all regions outside its home base in Jiangsu Province (which has ample supply capacity).

　　This network provides a steady flow of parts to over 1,000 authorized service stations nationwide. Each distribution center carries an average of over 5,000 part varieties, reducing shipping lead times to just 1-3 days and minimizing vehicle downtime risk.

　　At the same time, the strategic effects of channel development are becoming evident. On January 24, new Hunan dealer "Hunan Jingyue" secured an order for 50 refrigerated trucks on its very first day of operation. This is a testament to the vitality of terminal channels and reflects Yuejin's strong momentum in securing key industry clients and penetrating deeper into lower-tier markets.

A Commitment to Long-Termism: Aiming for a Record 70,000 Units

　　Based on its three-dimensional strength in products, ecosystem, and aftermarket, SAIC Yuejin achieved wholesale sales of 40,168 units in 2025, a remarkable 128% year-on-year increase, ranking first in the industry for growth rate.

　　Building on this foundation, SAIC Yuejin has set even more ambitious strategic targets for 2026: a firm goal of 56,000 units, a challenge target of 70,000 units, and a push for a market share exceeding 5%. Management has clearly outlined its focus on three major campaigns: transitioning to an ecosystem-driven model, enhancing digital and three-dimensional marketing, and rapidly scaling up light truck sales. It emphasizes a commitment to long-termism and building a higher-value industrial community with partners.

　　As the new energy light truck market moves beyond the early phase dominated by new players, factors like a solid technology base, supply chain stability, a dense service network, and long-term accumulated relationships with major clients are becoming the key determinants of the competitive landscape. Traditional commercial vehicle manufacturers like SAIC Yuejin, which possess these systemic capabilities, are now demonstrating their significant late-mover advantages.