Electric truck startup SuperPanther plans to deliver its first 100 to 200 customer vehicles in Europe before the end of 2026, marking its initial expansion outside China, company executives said.
The Xiamen-based manufacturer intends to begin series production this summer through contract manufacturing at Steyr Automotive in Austria. Europe is the company’s first export market, reflecting its strong ties to the region. “We have no diesel history,” said Frank Schulz, SuperPanther’s European sales director, noting that the company develops only battery-electric platforms.
Founded in 2022 by engineers from Tsinghua University and former executives from automotive supplier Continental, SuperPanther positions itself not only as a truck maker but also as a technology provider. The company develops key components in-house—including e-axles, thermal management systems and software—and plans to supply these technologies to third parties. Schulz said the goal is to see “16,000 electric trucks with our powertrain on Europe’s roads by 2030,” including vehicles built by other manufacturers.
SuperPanther’s European debut will center on the eTopas 600, a battery-electric 4×2 tractor unit designed specifically for the regional market. The truck features a gross battery capacity of 621 kWh using lithium iron phosphate cells supplied by CATL and offers a claimed range of about 500 kilometers. Continuous power output is rated at 394 kW, with peak power reaching 692 kW from a dual-motor e-axle configuration.
The vehicle is built on an 876-volt electrical architecture and is designed for a gross vehicle weight of 42 tonnes. With a tare weight of 10.8 tonnes, the truck can carry a payload of roughly 24 tonnes when paired with a standard trailer. SuperPanther said the vehicle’s heat pump system allows operation in temperatures from −30°C to +40°C.
A notable feature is a dual-gun DC fast-charging system, enabled by CCS2 ports on both sides of the vehicle. The configuration allows charging at up to 2 × 330 kW, or roughly 660 kW combined, reducing charging time from 20% to 80% to under 38 minutes under optimal conditions. The truck will also include a Megawatt Charging System (MCS) port for future ultra-fast charging infrastructure.
Production at Steyr Automotive will follow a semi-knocked-down assembly approach, combining modules from China with components from European suppliers including ZF, Schaeffler, Continental and Aumovio. The vehicles will be built in a facility previously used for MAN trucks.
SuperPanther said it aims to compete on performance and total cost of ownership rather than price alone. “We have no intention of entering with rock-bottom prices. We want to convince with performance, added value, and TCO,” Schulz said. The company plans to offer charging solutions through partners and maintenance services via the independent workshop network Alltrucks.
Pre-series vehicles are currently undergoing testing with potential customers, and logistics company DHL has signed a letter of intent for cooperation. SuperPanther also said it already has several hundred electric trucks operating in China under a separate model.