China National Heavy Duty Truck Group Co, Ltd (hereinafter referred to as "SINOTRUK"), formerly known as Jinan General Automobile Factory, was founded in 1930. It is considered to be the cradle of the heavy goods vehicle industry in China. In 1960, it produced China's very first heavy truck, the 8-tonne Yellow River JN150, marking the end of China's dependence on imported vehicles. On 4 May 1960, Chairman Mao Zedong visited Jinan and praised the prototype. On 11 January 1966, Chairman Zhu De personally inscribed the name "Huanghe" (Yellow River). This emblematic vehicle has played a crucial role in national construction and defence, becoming a symbol of autonomy and perseverance.

In 1983, under the impetus of Deng Xiaoping, SINOTRUK successfully introduced Austrian Steyr's heavy truck manufacturing technology, becoming the first Chinese company to fully import foreign heavy truck technology. "Steyr" quickly became synonymous with heavy trucks in China.

In 2004, SINOTRUK launched the HOWO, its first generation of autonomously developed heavy-duty trucks, brought to market in 2005 with a record of over 10,000 units sold in the same year. In 2013, the SITRAK range, with independent intellectual property rights, was launched. In 2020, the brand new top-of-the-range Yellow River truck was presented to the world, symbolising the entry of Chinese heavy goods vehicles into the big league.

SINOTRUK develops, produces and markets a wide range of heavy trucks, special vehicles, engines, transmissions, axles and other components. It owns well-known brands such as Huanghe, SITRAK and HOWO, covering all types of transmission and power levels, making it one of China's most comprehensive heavy truck manufacturers. The group owns three listed companies: Sinotruk (Hong Kong) Limited (listed in Hong Kong), Sinotruk Jinan Truck Co, Ltd and Zhongtong Bus Co, Ltd (both listed in Shenzhen). Its products are exported to more than 110 countries and regions, accounting for more than half of China's heavy goods vehicle exports.

Driven by the vision of "building a world-class commercial vehicle group", SINOTRUK continues to intensify its independent innovation efforts, invest in R&D, attract top technical talent and strengthen its premium national brands. It has a state-recognised technology centre, a national engineering research centre for heavy trucks, and a national inspection and testing centre. It has comprehensive R&D capabilities covering vehicles, engines, parts, materials and processes, with state-of-the-art machining, testing and validation facilities. The accuracy of its vibration and strength tests meets world standards. It has filled many technological gaps in China, and its automatic hybrid transmission project was awarded second prize for National Scientific and Technological Progress.

Since 2018, under new leadership, SINOTRUK has been rigorously implementing President Xi Jinping's instruction to "focus on core business". A series of bold reforms has released new momentum, leading to high-quality development dynamics. In 2023, SINOTRUK recorded an annual turnover of 173.1 billion yuan, an industrial added value of 19.1 billion yuan, with 335,000 vehicles sold, including 130,000 heavy trucks exported - occupying first place nationally in market share and export volume. That same year, Sinotruk (Hong Kong) Limited was ranked 385th out of China's 500 largest companies, 197th out of the 500 largest manufacturing companies, and 80th out of China's 100 most valuable brands.