SuperPanther is putting the electric truck eTopas from Steyr on the roads
Image: SuperPanther
The Chinese company SuperPanther recently began mass production of the eTopas 600 at Steyr Automotive in Steyr, Austria. At the end of July, the first mass-produced electric 4×2 tractor unit rolled off the assembly line. With the start of production, vehicles were delivered to customers for the first time.
The electric heavy truck was developed in China and is manufactured in Europe through a local industrial partnership. Pre-assembled modules are integrated into the final assembly at Steyr Automotive. The company is also responsible for commissioning and quality control of the electric vehicles.
SuperPanther supplies the twin-motor electric drive, high-voltage power electronics, and thermal management system, among other things. Other systems and components come from European industry partners such as ZF, Schaeffler, Aumovio, Infineon, Michelin, Continental, Goodyear, and Castrol.
"Europe doesn’t need another imported truck. Europe needs an industry partner," says Chao Liu, CEO of SuperPanther. "That’s exactly the approach we’ve pursued from the start. By combining our technology platform with European manufacturing, validation, and service expertise, we’re developing a product for Europe, together with Europe."
SuperPanther delivered series-produced vehicles to four first customers: logistics company DHL, a long-term partner of the Chinese firm, German transportation and logistics provider Gress, Austria’s highest-selling retailer Temmel, where the eTopas 600 is already in regular use, and Lontex, a commercial vehicle service company in Poland and the Czech Republic. This marks the start of regular commercial operation for the eTopas 600 in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
621-kWh LFP battery for over 600 kilometers per charge
The eTopas 600 is designed for a total vehicle weight of 42 tons and has a curb weight of 10.8 tons. Its dual-motor electric axle delivers a continuous power output of 394 kW/536 HP and reaches a peak power of 692 kW/941 HP. The 876-volt system uses a 621-kWh battery with CATL’s lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) technology, engineered to withstand up to 4500 full charge cycles. The battery is expected to last for up to 1.2 million kilometers or eight years.
Since March 2026, the customer test fleet in Germany and Austria has covered over 70,000 kilometers in real-world conditions. “Across various routes, load capacities, and usage cycles, the average energy consumption was around 0.94 kWh per kilometer,” reports Michael Ruf, head of SuperPanthers Europe. “This efficiency isn’t achieved by a single component but through the synergy of our internally developed core systems.” The software-defined vehicle architecture continuously optimizes the powertrain, thermal management, power electronics, and energy management systems, integrating them into a cohesive overall system.
The electric vehicle has CCS2 connectors on both sides and can be charged simultaneously at two charging stations. According to practical tests, the dual fast-charging function achieved a peak power of up to 646.7 kW and an average stable output of 635 kW. With two suitable CCS2 charging stations, the battery level could be increased from 20% to 80% in less than 38 minutes.
Under real European driving conditions with mixed loads, the eTopas 600 is expected to achieve a range of around 600 kilometers without completely depleting the battery. The thermal management system with a low-temperature heat pump is designed for ambient temperatures ranging from −35 to +40 degrees Celsius.
For maintenance and repair, SuperPanther collaborates with the Alltrucks service network, which includes 24/7 roadside assistance, and develops programs for service technicians, spare parts logistics, remote diagnostics, and wireless software updates.
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About the author
Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive and financial industries. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions for ecomento.de. Learn more.
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