European Logistics Provider Acquires Two Electric Trucks from China

­European logistics provider Dachser has furthered its electrification strategy with the acquisition of two electric trucks from Chinese manufacturer Build Your Dreams (BYD).

One of Europe’s largest logistics providers, Dachser currently operates 160 battery-electric trucks -- at 3.5+ tons – across Europe, for both long- and short-haul deliveries. They’ve also installed 800 charging points, and the crown jewel of their electrification strategy -- the ‘Dachser Emission-Free Delivery’ concept – which includes emission-free delivery zones in 25 European cities. In those areas, the company uses only electric trucks or cargo bikes.

But these latest acquisitions are unique in that Dachser has previously only relied on European electric truck brands, and the two BYD ETM6 models will be deployed in Spain for last-mile deliveries. And given that the vehicles include a 126 kWh battery, with a range around 200 km, they should be more than sufficient for Dachser’s purposes.

“The electrification of transport is a key pillar of our sustainability strategy. The test phase allowed us to evaluate the performance of BYD’s electric vehicles under real operating conditions and confirm that they meet our high standards for reliability, efficiency, and customer service,” said Alberto Gil, Team Leader for Energy Management & Sustainability at Dachser.

Of course, the European (and American) heavy duty electrification market has a long way to go to catch up to China. While the European electric truck market should reach $2.43 billion in 2026, in China, new energy vehicle (NEV) heavy duty trucks make up a significant percentage of all NEVs sold – with December’s 45,300 NEV heavy duty trucks representing a full 54% of the total.

Domenico Gostoli, Head of Commercial Vehicles at BYD Europe, added that “We understand Dachser’s electrification needs and fully support them in this transition. This is a milestone for both companies and for every end customer who benefits from emission-free deliveries.”