Since established as a joint venture of Sichuan Nanjun and Hyundai ROK, SICHUAN HYUNDAI has started the march into China’s commercial vehicle market. After 4 years’ research and development, this year it astonished the market first with the high-end medium-sized bus COUNTY, then followed by the high-end heavy truck TRAGO which targets at the port logistics at seaside cities. Both products have been recognized by the market with gradually escalating sales.

According to Deng Yijun, vice GM of SICHUAN HYUNDAI, the company plans to, while introducing mature star products of HYUNDAI Korea to seize the market share in high-end market, execute independent research and development to further launch SICHUAN HYUNDAI’s own brand. Its goal is to enter the top 10 of China’s commercial vehicle manufacturers.

ZHIDAO brand is a sub-brand of SICHUAN HYUNDAI which orientates medium-end price market. This product series incorporate the technology and design of HYUANDAI research and development center and are modified according to China’s market demand. Their parts are purchased in China and the production is finished at the automated plant of SICHUAN HYUNDAI in Ziyang. The most competitive price-quality ratio is acquired while the excellent quality and performance of the products are guaranteed.

ZHIDAO 300M is a “sugarcoated bullet” slung into China’s medium truck market by SICHUAN HYUNDAI, which have been off production line by batch lately. On the verge of its launch to the market, YUNSHUREN reporter was invited for test-ride/drive experience in SICHUAN HYUNDAI’s Ziyang plant.

With a very square and stern profile, ZHIDAO 300M has a typical “square face”. Its front grille adopts chrome-plated decorative strips and standing-type composite front-lamps convey some innovative feeling. Pass-through front windshield acquires broader vision for drivers.

The layout of the front console is neat .

The cabin is 1660mm wide to accommodate 3 persons. A sleeping berth is set within. In driving, few noises were heard in the cabin. 9 pieces of plastic damping plates are installed to insulate noise,vibration and heat, making the ride very pleasant.

Brand-new rear-view mirror design enlarges the size of the main rear-view mirror and wide-angle lens curvature without blind points.

Gear-shifting is smooth and speed acceleration is quick in driving. ZHIDAO 300M adopts mature engines in China, including YUNNEI D25TCIE1,YUCHAI YC4FA130-50, CUMMINS ISF2.8s5129T, ISF3.8s5141, ISUZU JE493ZLQ5 engines, with power covering 115-142 h.m. Currently State-V model for 300M has been put into mass production to cater to the energetic demand of the market.

Braking embodies one of ZHIDAO 300M’s major characteristics. The radius and width of drum brake is enlarged. ABS system is its standard configuration. Front axle disc brake is added. Double- circuits for braking is adopted to protect the valves. The brake pedal is sensitive and braking distance is short.

ZHIDAO 300M’s loading space can be customized so that freight container’s structure is optimized to match a freight container 2050mm wide and 3830mm long. There are 2 types of chassis, 3.5 tons and 5 tons with loading capacity of 5-8 tons.

During this trip to Ziyang, the reporter visited the vehicle assembly shop of SICHUAN HYUNDAI, where almost no workers can be seen because  the vehicle manufacturing technology and QC system of HYUNDAI Korea was introduced, the production line has become highly automated and intelligent. This world-class commercial vehicle plant has an annual capacity of 160,000 heavy/light trucks, 10,000 large/medium-sized buses and 20,000 heavy duty engines.

In the recent “Double-11” promotion, ZHIDAO 300M is priced at the very attractive CNY 60,000 Yuan, which demonstrates it’s an alluring product launched by SICHUAN HYUNDAI to open the market quickly. It’s reported the company will introduce another high-end light truck in the first half year of 2017 to further perfect its strategy in medium/high-end light truck line.