FPT Industrial, the Iveco Group brand dedicated to the design, production, and sale of low-environmental impact powertrains, was among the ten distinguished Italian and Chinese companies to receive awards at the 13th edition of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce Panda d’Oro Awards, held in Shanghai on June 15th at W Shanghai – The Bund.
Organized by the CICC (China-Italy Chamber of Commerce), the Panda d’Oro Awards recognize companies that have distinguished themselves during the previous year in terms of their investments, growth, and innovation within China. This year’s edition included ten award categories, two of which were dedicated to Chinese companies that have made the biggest contribution to favorable economic growth for both countries.
The highly coveted Innovation Award won by FPT Industrial is dedicated to the Italian company that has invested the most in innovation, research, and technological development, bringing innovative ideas, products, or processes to the Chinese market, contributing to the growth of its sector, or exploiting existing approaches in a new and creative way.
“FPT Industrial has always assigned a strategic position to the Chinese market,” said Eugenia Valente, FPT Industrial Asia & ANZ Vice President. “We are unwaveringly committed to introducing the most advanced cutting-edge technologies and products into China, with the purpose of creating excellent product value for Chinese customers and working together to achieve success. Winning the ‘Innovation Award’ is more than just recognition of our advanced philosophy, technologies, processes, and achievements in practical applications – it is also an incentive for us in terms of future innovation and expansion in the Chinese market.”
China is committed to optimizing and upgrading its energy structure and to increasing public awareness of environmental protection, low-carbon emissions and carbon reduction, which have become important directions for the transformation and upgrading of the industry. While working to achieve this goal, China is now an international market with one of the fastest growing electrification rates in the commercial vehicles sector. Based on estimates of industry associations and major stakeholders, the electrification of heavy trucks is expected to represent more than 15% of market sales by 2030.
Along with these industrial and economic trends, the honorary judging panel appointed by the CICC recognized FPT Industrial’s commitment to providing innovative and readily available solutionsfor a zero-emissions future, actively responding to the global focus on environmental protection, and working together with industry partners to promote sustainable development and the common vision of a green future.
In particular, the jury appreciated the products from the dedicated ePowertrain plant in Turin (Italy), which was inaugurated in October 2022. Iveco Group’s first carbon-neutral, Industry 4.0 plant, it produces eAxles, batteries, and Battery Management Systems for LCVs, HCVs, buses, minibuses, and even sport cars, such as the new Maserati GranTurismo Folgore, the first car in the brand’s history to adopt a 100% electric powertrain.
The jurors also appreciated the Brand’s host of innovative projects in the field of technological development, which are expected to play a crucial role in the foreseeable future, including FPT Industrial’s long-term and global approach to full-cycle sustainability, clearly expressed by collaborations such as the partnership with Reefilla, an innovative Turin-based startup offering the first predictive mobile charging service. Together, they launched a pilot project aimed at giving a second life to batteries from commercial electric vehicles.
Finally, the members of the judging panel were impressed by the new XC13 H2 engine, the hydrogen-fueled version of the new XC13, the brand’s first single-base, multi-fuel engine. From diesel to natural gas – including biomethane – hydrogen, and renewable fuels, the base engine has been designed with multiple versions to offer maximum component standardization and easy integration into the final product. Leveraging the company’s extensive experience with alternative fuels, the XC13 hydrogen combustion engine is an additional technology in FPT Industrial’s zero CO2 emission solutions portfolio, offering customers the familiarity they are used to with traditional machines.
