Sitrak set to take SA by storm

With a proud tradition dating back to 1930, Sinotruk is a leader in the Chinese heavy-duty truck industry. Now, the company is bringing its Sitrak heavy-duty truck to South Africa.

In 1960, Sinotruk produced China’s first heavy-duty truck (HDT), the JN-150, and the company was integral in laying the groundwork for the development of China’s HDT industry. Headquartered in Jinan, Shandong Province, today the company boasts the largest production base for heavy-duty trucks in China, with 12 domestic manufacturing bases. 

In the 2022 Chinese domestic market, Sinotruk sold 248 500 truck units, ranking first in the industry with a 23.64% market share. Sinotruk has also been the top ranked HDT exporter in China for 18 consecutive years. 

The company is a leader in research and development (R&D), with one of the country’s first national enterprise technology research centres, a National Quality Supervision and Inspection Centre for HDTs, and eight separate test laboratories. 

Sinotruk’s aim is to build a world-class group of full series commercial vehicles. It is leading the way in China’s push for cleaner energy, with its product lines for natural gas, hydrogen fuel cell, and battery-electric vehicles. It is also pushing the development trend for China’s intelligent autonomous commercial vehicles. 

Sitrak comes to SA 

In 2009, Sinotruk signed a strategic cooperation agreement with MAN and introduced advanced technologies for the engine, cab, chassis, and axle. Through localised production, Sinotruk launched MC series engines, the HOWO-T series, and Sitrak products. Sinotruk first launched its Sitrak HDT in 2013, and now it is bringing the exciting Sitrak C7H 64480 TT AMT 6×4 tractor to South Africa, with spring or air suspension. 

Based on state-of-the-art European technology, the Sitrak C7H is powered by the 12.419-litre, six-cylinder in-line, water cooled Sinotruk MC13.48-30 Euro 3 engine. The engine has a maximum output of 480 hp (353 kW) @ 1 900 r/min and maximum torque of 2 300 Nm @ 1 050 to 1 400 r/min. This powerful and economical MC engine provides ultra durability and reliability and is equipped with a specially designed EVB function, effectively raising braking power by precisely controlling the butterfly-valve opening of the proportional valve. Fuel capacity is 600 + 250 litres, while the Sitrak also offers longer oil change maintenance intervals for engine (40 000 km), transmission (160 000 km), and axles (up to 80 000 km). 

The Sitrak offers a ground clearance of 152 mm, with a minimum turning circle of 18 m and maximum gradeability of 35%. Inside the double sleeper cab, which is hydraulically tiltable to the front, the driver is treated to home-like comfort, with four-point support fully floating suspension. This is enhanced by an adjustable air driver’s seat and adjustable rigid co-driver’s seat, a user-friendly heating and ventilation system, a multi-function steering wheel with a clear layout, and plenty of storage space. 

The Sitrak’s lightweight, modular design is based on aluminium alloy parts, substantially raising payload and providing an excellent base on which to build. With a clear chassis layout and easy-to-mount upper body, the modular design allows for easy refitting and maintenance.

It also has numerous active and passive safety features, such as a range of camera and radar giving the driver a full view at all times, ABS braking, and an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) including adaptive cruise control, hill start assist, and lane departure warning system. 

The Sitrak looks set to take South Africa by storm, building on Sinotruk’s impressive export network across the globe.