As happened recently with Volvo and after the brands’ refusal to enter the Russian market, Scania trucks already have their faithful copy in China under the Junfeng brand.
The Scania trucks They are among the most recognized worldwide for their reliability, robustness and durability over the years and millions of kilometers traveled, and that is why many manufacturers constantly seek for their models to be like those of the Swedish manufacturer.
After the start of the reprehensible war in Ukraine, the Russian transport market began to be flooded with Chinese trucks, as traditional European brands, such as Scania, completely closed their operations in the country and sales of models from the Asian country skyrocketed.
That is why Chinese brands are now investing in the production of commercial vehicles exclusively for the Russian market, such as the new Junfeng DF9a faithful copy of the new generation of Scania trucks.
This range of heavy vehicles will be produced starting in the last quarter of the year in China and destined for other countries where the Swedish brand does not officially market. Junfeng, for those who don’t know, is a brand of Dongfengone of the largest truck manufacturers in the Asian country.
What the new Chinese Scania trucks are like
Despite looking like a fake image, the truth is that the Junfeng DF9 model, as it is called, is an almost identical copy of the current Scania S, produced since 2016. The copy is so blatant that Even the interior retains great features of the original truck.
The DF9 front has the same style of grill (with a redesign of the bars), headlights and bumpers than the Scania S, as well as auxiliary lights on the roof with a differentiating frame. What changes a little is the side line of the cabin, which appears more inclined.
The truck also has conventional rearview mirrors that are complemented by the installed cameras, with high-resolution internal screens in the A-pillars of the cabin. The technology is likely to be available as an option.
Inside, the distribution is very similar to that of Scania trucksincluding the steering wheel and most of the controls, the ergonomic shape of the entire board except for the multimedia screen, which is large compared to the original.
Despite the visual similarity, the big change is found under the cabin. And it does not retain engines from the Swedish brand but replaces them with a 13-liter Cummins, with 560 horsepower, which complies with Euro 5 regulations and is manufactured in China. The gearboxes are ZF or Eaton, also produced under license in China.
According to comments from this little-known brand, the first Junfeng models will be exhibited at the fair. COMvex 2024, which will take place in Moscow, Russia. The expected price for this copy is 11 million rubles, or about $124,000. Pre-sale begins in September and the first deliveries are scheduled for October with a 3-year warranty.
The European giant lands in China
Scania, today belonging to the Traton Group and cousin-sister from Volkswagen Trucks and Buses, MAN and Navistaramong others, began negotiations in 2020 to enter the Chinese market as a manufacturer, one in itself very particular when it comes to opening its arms to a European giant.
We say this because according to the law of that country, any manufacturer who wishes to install a plant or production center must partner with a local company to be able to start activities. However, in the case of Scania, the brand itself will have 100% decision when assembling a truck since said investment law was recently modified.
With the start of construction of the plant, Scania takes a key strategic step towards the expansion of its presence in China and the Asian market in general, in which it has maintained an active and growing presence in the last decade.
The chosen site was the city of Rugao, Jiangsu province, 150 km northwest of Shanghai. There the European giant will open the doors of its zero-emissions factory at the end of 2024, where it will produce vehicles for both the Chinese and export markets.
Logically, the plant will maintain the exclusive modular production system of the Swedish brand, which will significantly reduce delivery times to Asian customers, it will be Scania’s fourth global production base, after Södertälje in Sweden, Zwolle in the Netherlands and São Bernardo do Campo in Brazil, and will benefit the Argentine machining plant.
