No matter how the times change, for manufacturing enterprises, only by constantly innovating can they stand firmly in the intensifying market competition.
Cummins is undoubtedly a leading enterprise in the Chinese commercial vehicle power industry. In the nearly 50 years since entering China, Cummins has not only introduced globally leading power solutions to China, but also rooted itself in the Chinese market, working with Chinese OEMs to continuously innovate and upgrade products, bringing a continuous stream of power to the global market.
In 2024, facing rapidly changing market demands and stricter regulatory requirements, what new heavy-duty engine products will Cummins China launch? What profound impact will these new products have on the industry? Please refer to the report on First Commercial Vehicle Network below.
Seize the growth opportunity in the medium truck market and launch a new generation of 7.0L and 6.2L engines
Specifically, Cummins China launched four new engine products that meet the four stages of fuel consumption in 2024, with two each in the first and second half of the year. Among them, the two products launched in the first half of the year are the new 7.0L and 6.2L engines, which were released on May 16, 2024, targeting the medium truck power market.
Cummins' new 7.0L and 6.2L engines are a shared platform product under Cummins' FFA2.0 strategy, which will be produced simultaneously by Dongfeng Cummins and Foton Cummins. These two new products have been comprehensively upgraded in terms of fuel efficiency, power, reliability, and driving comfort, and their applicable scenarios have expanded from medium horsepower trucks to the construction vehicle market. The fuel saving performance surpasses the past, with a fuel saving of 5% -10% compared to the previous generation product under typical cargo application conditions; In terms of power, the all-new 6.2L engine has a maximum power of 290 horsepower and a maximum torque of 1150 Newton meters, while the 7.0L engine has a maximum power of 350 horsepower and a maximum torque of 1400 Newton meters, bringing a brand new power experience; In terms of reliability, 33 reliability technologies have been iteratively upgraded to further enhance reliability. In addition, in terms of driving comfort, the gear system design has been comprehensively improved, significantly reducing engine noise and vibration.
Cummins' new 7.0L and 6.2L engines inherit the advantages of Cummins' classic B-series platform. It should be noted that Cummins B-series engines have a history of over 40 years and have sold over 17 million units worldwide, making them the preferred power source for many brands worldwide. Among them, the 6.2L inherits the excellent genes of reliability and durability of the 5.9L, which is praised by users as a "divine machine", while the 7.0L continues the industry-leading advantages of the 6.7L. The two new products are not only a significant upgrade to Cummins' traditional medium horsepower truck market, but also a major advancement in the construction vehicle market. It is worth mentioning that these two engines are also the flagship products of Cummins multi fuel engine platform in the mid horsepower range. Cummins has currently launched a 6.7N natural gas engine, while a 6.7H hydrogen internal combustion engine is under development.
It has been proven that it was very wise for Cummins China to launch upgraded power products for medium trucks in the first half of the year. According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, from January to November 2024, the cumulative sales of medium trucks in China reached 116000 units, a year-on-year increase of 15%, with the highest growth rate among the four segmented truck markets; Among them, from March to August, the sales volume of the medium truck market also achieved a rare six consecutive increases. Cummins has seized the growth opportunity in the medium truck market well, not only achieving a new upgrade in power performance and enhancing product competitiveness, but also meeting the upcoming four stage fuel standards in terms of regulations, which can be described as " kilingl two birds with one stone ".
Leading the Blue Label Light Truck Power Upgrade and Launching the New Generation 2.5L and 3.0L Light Aircraft
Cummins China will launch two new heavy-duty engines for the commercial vehicle market in 2024, namely the all-new 2.5L and 3.0L light engines, on November 5, 2024. Its three joint venture companies, Dongfeng Cummins, Foton Cummins, and Anhui Cummins, will all produce simultaneously.
The surge in sales of new energy light trucks in 2024 is evident to all. So, why does Cummins China still launch a new generation of 2.5L and 3.0L light engine products?
According to official statements from Cummins executives, although the trend towards new energy in the light vehicle market is on the rise, the penetration rate of new energy in the pure blue license plate light truck market is not high; Cummins' new generation 2.5L and 3.0L light aircraft are specifically designed for the Blue Label light truck market. Moreover, Cummins China executives believe that by 2030, although there will inevitably be a portion of the electric market in the light truck market, the core power should still be internal combustion engine power, especially in some specific scenarios and applications. Diesel power is not limited by terrain, weather, or infrastructure and can be used 24/7 without interruption. In addition, diesel powered light trucks currently have a relative advantage in fields that require high power and reliability, especially in scenarios such as frequent starting, acceleration, heavy load climbing, and cold chain transportation that combines driving and cooling needs.
It can be said that Cummins' new generation 2.5L and 3.0L light engines are new products launched based on in-depth thinking about the future development trends of light truck power and user needs in segmented scenarios, reflecting Cummins' forward-looking thinking and responsibility for considering users as a light power giant. With the emergence of a new generation of lightweight platforms, Cummins' low-carbon power product line has become more complete, achieving product coverage from 2.5L to 15L, meeting the four stage fuel consumption standards across the entire range.
It is reported that Cummins' new generation of lightweight engine platform has comprehensively improved reliability, economy, and power performance. In terms of economy, the cycle fuel consumption of the engine saves 8% of fuel at the end, and combined with the optimization of the entire vehicle fuel consumption, which can reach 15%; In terms of power, the 2.5L engine is lightweight, with high torque and significantly increased power output, and a maximum power of 136 kW (approximately 185 horsepower), which mens an increase of 22%. The 3.0L engine has a maximum power of 155 kW (approximately 211 horsepower), an increase of 44%; In addition, the core components of the all-new 2.5L and 3.0L engines have also been fully upgraded. For example, the new generation of single tube post processors used in the emission treatment system have a more streamlined design and smaller size, which can not only adapt to more vehicle models, but also assist in reducing the weight of the entire vehicle; Cummins' new generation HE150 WG turbocharger is specially tailored for the new 2.5L and 3.0L platforms, with product advantages such as improved fuel economy, longer service life, and significantly enhanced oil leakage resistance.
It is worth noting that compared to the previous generation platform, Cummins' new 2.5L and 3.0L engine platforms have also made pre-development for hybrid power, preparing details in advance for the promotion of hybrid systems in the light truck market in the future. In Cummins China's view, the future of energy is diversified. In the field of new energy, Cummins is also fully prepared in areas such as motors, electronic control, and electric drive axles.
Conclusion
From the four new engine products launched by Cummins China in 2024, it is not difficult to see that Cummins has always been at the forefront of the industry in accurately grasping market development trends and responding quickly to regulations and policies. High horsepower, fuel efficiency, and economy are the core keywords of Cummins' new engine products, which have solved many pain points for users in the context of rising transportation costs, low freight rates, and increasingly competitive logistics environments, making it a timely solution.
Looking towards the future, Cummins, with over a hundred years of history, will continue to promote the upgrading and progress of the industry with outstanding technical strength, high-quality products, and a customer-centric service philosophy.