Success for Sinotruk with DP World!

June 23, 2025

Alpine Truck and Bus has delivered more than 300 Sinotruk vehicles to DP World over the past 12 months, marking a significant milestone for both companies and solidifying Sinotruk’s growing presence in South Africa’s commercial vehicle market.

The models delivered comprise the Sitrak 480 and 540hp in both C7 and C9 configurations. These units, known for their performance, durability, and cost-efficiency, have positioned Sinotruk as a serious contender in the competitive heavy vehicle sector.

According to Bruce Dickson, managing director of Alpine Truck and Bus, this continued partnership is a testament to the brand’s strength and continuous development. “Sinotruk offers top quality on par with – and in certain areas superior to – European competitors,” he explains. “It stands head and shoulders above other Chinese brands currently in the market.

“Essentially, it is a European truck manufactured in China, combining European engineering pedigree with further enhancements developed specifically for the global market.”

This impressive achievement is not a once-off transaction, but the beginning of a long-term partnership. Alpine Truck and Bus has been awarded preferred supplier status to DP World for the next three years, a clear recognition of Alpine’s commitment to service excellence and product reliability.

Why Sinotruk?

Dickson says the Sinotruk models offer an outstanding combination of build quality, safety features, competitive fuel consumption, and overall cost competitiveness – delivering substantial benefits in terms of total cost of ownership (TCO).

“Efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness were decisive elements,” he notes. “When compared to other offerings in the market, these trucks stood out significantly.” Some minor modifications were made to the vehicles to suit DP World’s specific operational requirements, although details remain confidential due to proprietary agreements.

Swift delivery, comprehensive support

One significant advantage for DP World was immediate availability. Sinotruk maintains a robust stockholding in South Africa, with over 200 units available ex-stock. This allowed Alpine to meet DP World’s needs without delay, demonstrating the dealership’s operational agility.

The handover process was meticulously managed, with separate handover functions organised and all driver and operational training provided in advance. This ensured that DP World’s teams were fully prepared to operate the new fleet from day one.

In addition, most of the vehicles are running under comprehensive repair and maintenance contracts for the duration of their operational lives. Trade-back agreements have also been put in place, ensuring further value retention for DP World over the lifecycle of the fleet.

Strategic growth and future prospects

The deal with DP World significantly enhances Alpine Truck and Bus’s reputation and positions the company for further growth. With a fully operational dealership in Pinetown and a service dealership in Kraaifontein, Alpine is well prepared to offer nationwide after-sales support. Plans are also underway to establish a full dealership in Gauteng, expanding the company’s footprint to better serve the growing demand for Sinotruk vehicles across South Africa.

Dickson emphasises the company’s philosophy of maintaining close personal involvement with customers throughout the lifetime of each vehicle, ensuring ongoing service improvements and customer satisfaction.

The impact of this landmark deal is already being felt beyond Alpine. “It reflects extremely positively on the Sinotruk brand, which has huge growth targets aligned for the coming years,” Dickson says.

With rising confidence in Sinotruk’s product offering and Alpine’s unwavering customer focus, this partnership sets a strong precedent for future success in the commercial vehicle sector. As the market continues to evolve, Alpine Truck and Bus looks set to remain a driving force behind the expansion of Sinotruk’s footprint across Southern Africa.