DB Schenker Deploys First Methanol Heavy Trucks in China

DB Schenker celebrated the deployment of its first methanol heavy trucks in China with a ceremony held in Shanghai on March 25th. The company announced that the official operation of two Geely Farizon G methanol electric range-extended tractors (hereinafter referred to as “methanol tractors”) into its land transport services, reinforcing its commitment to advancing green logistics.

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Christian Drenthen, Global Board Member for Land Transport of DB Schenker, Ms. Cindy Cao, CEO of DB Schenker Greater China, Mr. Christoph Matthes, Head of Land Transport of DB Schenker Asia Pacific, Mr. Robert Wu, Vice President and Head of Land Transport of DB Schenker Greater China, Mr. Guo Lei, Vice President of Geely New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group, General Manager of Heavy Truck Sales BU, Mr. Kuang Kaichuan, General Manager of Hanma Technology Marketing Branch of Geely Commercial Vehicle Group, Mr. Qin Chongguang, Manager of Jiangsu Marketing Center, Heavy Truck Marketing Branch of Geely Commercial Vehicle Group, and numerous industry experts who witnessed this significant milestone.

The two methanol tractors will be strategically deployed in Shanghai and Ningbo, supporting DB Schenker’s critical operations such as less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation and inland service provider (ISP) tractor services within the key logistic hubs of the Yangtze River Delta. The deployment will strengthen the company's green logistics network for medium and long-haul truck transportation. Prior to the official launch, the inaugural trial of the methanol tractor successfully completed the round-trip journey from December 12th to 16th, 2024, executing a full container load (FCL) mission for the China-Europe freight route from Shanghai to Xi’an, validating their safety and operational reliability.

Featuring a 6x4 drive configuration and a high-capacity 1,130L methanol fuel tank, the tractors can be refueled in just five minutes. Leveraging the existing public methanol refueling network, the tractors offer smart, digitalized refueling solutions with both fixed-location or on-demand services, effectively addressing long-haul “range anxiety”. Compared to diesel trucks, fuel costs are reduced by up to 15% under similar operating conditions, highlighting the practical and economic advantages of methanol as a clean and renewable energy source for heavy-duty transport.

At the launch ceremony, Ms. Cindy Cao, CEO of DB Schenker Greater China, stated: “Climate action is a top priority for DB Schenker. In pursuit of reducing the environmental impact of our products and operations on the planet, we are exploring new avenues for green transportation through continuous innovation. The deployment of these methanol heavy-duty trucks is a crucial step in delivering efficient and eco-friendly logistics solutions to our customers and reflecting the company’s dedication to driving both cost-efficiency and industry-wide advancement in green logistics.”

Mr. Robert Wu, Vice President, Head of Land Transport of DB Schenker Greater China, added: “Building a diversified NEV fleet is essential to our smart green logistics network. To practice the concept of green development, we aim to substantially reduce the carbon footprint of our transportation. Looking ahead, DB Schenker will continue to scale the NEV fleet and strengthen collaboration with industry partners to build a greener, and more efficient logistics supply chain.”

Mr. Lei Guo, Vice President of Geely New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group, General Manager of Heavy Truck Sales BU, said: “We appreciate DB Schenker’s choice of Farizon methanol heavy trucks for its land transport operations. Moving forward, Farizon will continue to invest in the technological R&D and product enhancements of methanol commercial vehicles and work closely with DB Schenker to create a sustainable and recyclable methanol ecosystem across the entire industry.”