Truck makers seek foothold in special-purpose vehicle segment

BEIJING - With China's high-end, heavy-duty truck market not expected to boom for at least 10 years, global truck makers are now seeking opportunities in China's special-purpose vehicle segment in hopes of grabbing a foothold in the world's fastest growing economy.

"Although our major business in China still targets imports of heavy-duty trucks for logistics, we also have had breakthroughs in fire-fighting vehicles in the last two years," said Mats Harborn, managing director of Scannia China, the local branch of Swedish commercial vehicle producer under Volkswagen AG.

The company has also began providing construction and engineering trucks to the local market this year, said Harborn.