SINOTRUK to increase annual production

SINOTRUK the nation's largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer announced a 40 percent gain in net profits to 768 million yuan in the first half.

The company's chairman, Ma Chunji said the company is striving to raise heavy truck production capacity to 120,000 units this year from 110,000 units in 2007, while the production capacity of engines will surge from 110,000 to 200,000 units.

The company has decided to raise the annual production capacity to meet the soaring market demand. "The monthly orders of trucks were about 30,000 units between March and May, which significantly exceeded our existing production capability," he said.

Although the sale eased off in July as a result of the release of new regulation on heavy trucks, Ma believed this could be solved soon and there will be growth in sale again after September.

The new regulation regarding heavy-duty trucks took effect in July and the engines are now subject to the environmental requirement set by National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

The company is now working on the promotion of the National III-compliant new diesel engine, which has been approved by NDRC, Ma added.

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