In 1975, a mining truck equipped with a high-horsepower Cummins diesel engine was first deployed at the Benxi Iron Mine in China. The roar of the engine not only powered the mine's operations but also marked the beginning of a new chapter in Cummins' development in China.
Join us as we trace how Cummins has driven Chinese mining from the past into the future through strength and innovation.
1981–1988
From Licensed Production to On-Site Service
In 1981, Chongqing Engine Factory began licensed production of Cummins engines-the first step toward technology transfer and local manufacturing. In 1987, the large-scale Sino-American joint venture, Shanxi Pingshuo Antaibao Open-Pit Coal Mine, was completed and launched. Cummins became the primary engine supplier for the mine's heavy-duty mining and transportation equipment, providing core power support for high-intensity operations. To better serve Chinese customers, Cummins established an on-site service center at Antaibao in 1988, offering long-term engine maintenance and technical support to ensure stable equipment operation. This marked a shift in Cummins' service philosophy-from "product delivery" to "lifecycle protection."
2007–2009
The Leap into Electronic Control Era
In 2007, Cummins announced that Chongqing Cummins Engine Company would introduce fully electronic-controlled 19-liter and 38-liter high-horsepower diesel engine platforms in sync with those in Europe and North America, covering output ranges from 500 to 1,500 horsepower. These engines were widely applied across mining, construction machinery, marine, oil & gas, rail, and power generation sectors, meeting stringent European and American off-road emission standards. In 2009, the first locally produced Cummins QSK19 high-horsepower electronically controlled engine rolled off the line at Chongqing Cummins-a milestone not only in technological alignment but also a qualitative leap in localized manufacturing capability.
2015–2019
Dual Wings of Smart Manufacturing and Innovation
In 2015, construction began on a new base for high-horsepower engine production and R&D in Chongqing, officially commissioned in 2022, laying a solid foundation for advanced manufacturing. In 2019, Cummins advanced its R&D efforts on two fronts: the Wuhan Technology Center for Electronics and Fuel Systems was inaugurated, dedicated to developing high-horsepower fuel systems; and the Chongqing High-Horsepower Technology Center commenced operations, marking Cummins' establishment of leading-edge capabilities in research, testing, and development of high-horsepower diesel and gas engines in China. This enabled Cummins to customize products tailored to local market demands, transforming from "technology import" to "independent innovation."
2025–Future: A Symphony of Green and Intelligent Solutions
In 2025, Cummins unveiled its localized mining power solutions at BICES, demonstrating full domestic production capacity for high-horsepower mining engines, with displacement ranging from 19L to 60L, compliant with multiple emission standards and supported by comprehensive after-sales and lifecycle services. That same year, Wuxi Cummins Turbo Technologies upgraded its localized intelligent manufacturing capability for high-horsepower turbochargers, successfully establishing a fully integrated smart management system from local raw material procurement and core component manufacturing to product delivery.
In 2026, Wuxi Cummins Turbo Technologies launched the P7 and Q7 next-generation high-horsepower turbocharger platform, further enhancing its product portfolio with significant improvements in efficiency and reliability.
Through action, Cummins Mining Power has drawn a profound blueprint of localization-from technology introduction and local manufacturing to R&D innovation and green transformation. This not only enables products to precisely meet local needs but also empowers Chinese mining operations with advanced technical standards and agile, efficient local services, driving them toward a more efficient, sustainable, and profitable future.