Forland Global Partners Conference Drives a New Era for Commercial Vehicles
The 2026 FORLAND Global Partners Conference opened in China with a level of ambition that reflects the shifting expectations of the global commercial vehicle market.
Held on 12 November 2025, the event gathered partners from five continents to examine how the next phase of green logistics, digital transformation, and sustainable mobility will reshape the industry. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation, accelerating technology adoption, and supporting a new era of low‑carbon transportation.
The conference arrived at a pivotal moment. The global commercial vehicle sector is undergoing a profound transition driven by decarbonisation commitments, rising fuel costs, digitalisation of fleets, and increasing pressure on operators to lower lifecycle emissions. Chinese manufacturers have made significant strides in this landscape, and FORLAND continues to emerge as one of the most influential brands pushing for rapid internationalisation.
Understanding The Global Shift Toward Low‑Carbon Transport
Across the commercial vehicle sector, the shift toward greener and smarter mobility has gained remarkable speed. Figures from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) show that China has maintained a leading position in commercial vehicle exports for five consecutive years. Furthermore, new energy commercial vehicles accounted for more than 18 percent of the global market in 2025, illustrating how quickly fleets are electrifying.
This trend is being fuelled by several global drivers. Many governments have introduced more stringent emissions standards, forcing manufacturers to accelerate development of hybrid, electric, hydrogen and alternative‑fuel vehicles. Simultaneously, operators are recognising the cost advantages of new energy vehicles through reduced fuel expenditure, lower maintenance needs, and improved operational efficiency.
Chinese manufacturers have used this momentum to expand their global presence, with FORLAND positioning itself as a frontrunner in electric and hybrid commercial vehicle development. The brand’s commitment to internationalisation mirrors the broader evolution of Chinese automotive technology from basic manufacturing to global innovation leadership.
Nearly Three Decades Of Development And International Growth
FORLAND’s rise reflects a long‑term strategy that blends manufacturing scale with increasingly sophisticated engineering capabilities. Founded in 1996, the company quickly became a major force within China’s domestic market. Over time, it expanded its portfolio to serve a wide range of industries, earning trust among more than 6.8 million customers worldwide.
The brand took its first steps into the global market in 2008, exporting its products and demonstrating the durability of Chinese commercial vehicles in challenging operating conditions. The years that followed brought steady expansion, with FORLAND progressively shifting from a manufacturing‑focused model to an innovation‑oriented strategy.
A notable milestone came in 2024 with the establishment of FORLAND’s Global Business Division. This move marked a decisive step in transforming the brand from a straightforward exporter into an integrated global operator with capabilities spanning R&D, marketing, local operations, and personalised market solutions.
Technology, Brand Building And A Modernised Product Portfolio
Today, FORLAND delivers one of the industry’s most diverse commercial vehicle line‑ups. Its portfolio includes vans, mini trucks, light trucks and construction vehicles designed for a wide variety of logistics and operational needs. The company has invested heavily in advanced propulsion systems, including electric, hybrid and hydrogen powertrains.
In addition to vehicle innovation, FORLAND is building a strengthened digital infrastructure covering global supply chain coordination, remote diagnostics, digital marketing, and data‑driven fleet services. This reflects the modern expectation that commercial vehicle manufacturers deliver not only hardware but also software‑enabled fleet management ecosystems.
The company’s long‑term roadmap outlines two core phases:
- 2025 to 2027: Expansion of overseas R&D centres and reinforcement of local operational capabilities.
- 2028 to 2030: Establishment as a leading global light commercial vehicle brand, with a presence in more than 150 countries and regions, a user base of 10 million, and annual revenues surpassing 40 billion yuan.
This forward‑looking strategy is supported by FORLAND’s refreshed brand slogan “Forland, For You!”. The slogan represents five core values: Fast, Forever, Fantastic, Freedom and Future, expressing the company’s ambition to deliver reliability, user‑centred design, operational ease, and continuous innovation.
A Three‑Step Strategy For Accelerated Globalisation
During the conference, Dong Yongsheng, General Manager of FORLAND International Division, outlined the company’s overseas achievements and introduced its structured Three‑Step Globalisation Strategy. He emphasised the following approach:
- Foundation: Building a solid trade base through vehicle exports and CKD distribution.
- Localization: Supporting regional manufacturing and marketing systems to deepen market penetration.
- Deep Integration: Establishing complete overseas ecosystems including R&D, finance, service and production capabilities.
Dong highlighted the brand’s collaborative approach: “FORLAND’s aim is to create long‑term value with our partners by forming a globally integrated supply chain ecosystem.” This strategy reflects the maturation of the Chinese automotive export model, which increasingly prioritises localisation and co‑innovation with international partners.
To support this direction, FORLAND plans to broaden its product range, increase investment in autonomous driving systems, and advance development in heavy truck technology and intelligent mobility platforms.
New Products Demonstrate The Brand’s Innovation Strength
One of the major highlights of the 2026 conference was the unveiling of two new products aimed at global markets: the L7 automatic transmission truck and the U7 series, along with demonstrations of the company’s latest autonomous driving technology.
The L7, developed using millions of kilometres of real‑world road data, has been upgraded across seven essential categories: intelligence, power, safety, fuel efficiency, comfort, load capacity and service. These improvements provide operators with a more efficient, dependable and comfortable transport solution capable of meeting diverse logistics requirements worldwide.
The U7 series represents a significant breakthrough in commercial van engineering. Based on a skateboard chassis platform, it is the first van in the sector to incorporate cross‑domain control VICU technology. This system integrates power management and thermal management, delivering greater efficiency, power stability and adaptability across operating environments.
FORLAND also used the event to introduce its new energy strategy, highlighting increased investment in battery systems, hydrogen solutions and charging infrastructure. In recognition of the contributions from partners, the company presented awards to outstanding overseas dealers who achieved strong performance throughout the year.
Contributing To A Greener, More Connected Future
The conference showcased how FORLAND has evolved from manufacturing products in China to co‑creating a global logistics ecosystem in collaboration with its international partners. The company’s long‑term ambition is to support operators around the world with cleaner, smarter, safer and more connected transport solutions.
With nearly thirty years of experience and an increasingly global vision, FORLAND intends to continue advancing green mobility, strengthening international cooperation and driving sustainable growth. Its leadership places strong emphasis on continuous improvement, digital integration and shared development.
As the global market continues to shift toward decarbonised logistics, FORLAND’s growth model illustrates how manufacturers can position themselves at the centre of industry transformation by aligning technology, localised strategy and international collaboration.
Advancing With Confidence
The 2026 Global Partners Conference reinforced FORLAND’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and customer‑centric development.
Its strategy reflects the realities of a rapidly changing commercial vehicle sector, where success hinges on agility, advanced engineering and the ability to collaborate across borders.
With its strengthened global roadmap, FORLAND appears well positioned to serve the next generation of mobility and logistics demands.
