Scania’s CEO warns: “Chinese trucks will be 40% cheaper, but we’re not afraid of them—we’re afraid of EU regulations.”
09/10/2026 13:30
Updated to
09/10/2026 13:31
Scania is one of the most innovative truck manufacturers in the EU, as shown by its 720 km electric truck, its innovative partnership with Toyota, and even its creation of the “Netflix” for heavy transport.
According to its CEO, Christian Levin, this is their main defense against upcoming Chinese electric trucks, some of which, he warns, “could enter the European market at prices 30 to 40% lower.”
Scania isn’t afraid of Chinese trucks, but…
Levin was referring to the 15 Chinese electric truck manufacturers who were present at the previous IAA in Hannover, where the owner of OMODA delivered a big surprise. But Scania isn’t afraid of such low prices, notes Levin, who believes the company should justify its truck prices not only through their capabilities but also through its network of workshops and services, customer relationships, or financing options: “Scania has never aimed to be the brand with the lowest prices. We want to offer so much value that we can be the most expensive.”
And Chinese trucks should be afraid of Scania’s entry into the EU market, where they will have to face what Scania’s CEO calls a difficult challenge: their residual value, whose level after a few years is unknown to anyone… Therefore, those lower prices might not be as advantageous as they seem at first glance.
Although Levin is aware that over the years, Chinese truck manufacturers will also develop their own network of workshops, financing, and services in the EU.
What does worry Scania’s CEO, however, is the learning capacity regarding electric trucks that Chinese manufacturers will gain if they put many more electric trucks on the road than European brands: “If we stay here in Europe selling just a few thousand trucks, we’ll learn too slowly.”
He is indeed afraid of EU regulations
"We shouldn’t be afraid of Chinese truck manufacturers," explains Scania’s CEO. "We should be afraid of Brussels." Levin is referring to the fact that it seems Chinese authorities are supporting their electric truck industry, while EU charging infrastructure and regulations appear to be progressing at a slower pace.
European manufacturers present at the IAA in Hannover have already asked the EU for a schedule adjustment—a three-year delay—to meet the CO₂ emission targets for heavy vehicles.
Scania’s CEO considers the EU’s expectations “little realistic,” as the EU aims for around one-third of Europe’s truck sales to be electric models by 2030. Why? Because the market share of electric trucks remains very low in several countries, such as Spain.
His biggest concern is the fines imposed by the EU if electric truck sales fail to meet that target; according to his estimates, this could force manufacturers to face annual fines ranging from 1 billion to 2 billion euros.
Scania’s CEO is very clear on this: “We can’t force customers to buy trucks they don’t want. If the infrastructure and costs aren’t adjusted, the rest of the regulatory framework will also need to be adjusted,” he said.