BYD has entered the European heavy-duty electric truck market with the ETT 44, a battery-electric 4×2 tractor unit designed for gross combination weights of up to 44 tonnes. The truck combines a 651-kWh battery with charging capability exceeding 1.5 MW.
The Chinese manufacturer unveiled the ETT 44 for the European market at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hanover, positioning the model as the flagship of its European commercial vehicle range. BYD plans to expand its European portfolio from lighter commercial vehicles through to 44-tonne heavy-duty applications.
651-KWh LFP Battery Powers Nearly 600-Km Range
The ETT 44 uses BYD’s Blade Battery with LFP cell chemistry and a total capacity of 651 kWh.
BYD claims the electric tractor can travel up to 372 miles, or nearly 600 kilometres, on a single charge. The manufacturer has not specified the operating or testing conditions behind the range figure.
The truck supports CCS2 charging at up to 420 kW. Under this system, BYD says the battery can be charged from 20% to 80% in a maximum of 60 minutes.
The ETT 44 also supports the Megawatt Charging System (MCS), with charging power of more than 1.5 MW. Using MCS, BYD says the same 20%-to-80% charging process can take no more than 20 minutes and can add nearly 400 kilometres of claimed range.
Up To 1,000 PS Of Peak Power
According to BYD, the ETT 44 produces 743 PS under normal operating conditions, with peak output reaching up to 1,000 PS.
The tractor unit has a curb weight ranging from 10.95 to 11.14 tonnes, depending on its configuration.
BYD is offering a 10-year or 1.2-million-kilometre warranty for the Blade Battery, underscoring the company’s focus on durability for high-mileage commercial operations.
BYD Expands European Truck Portfolio
The ETT 44 is not the only electric truck BYD is presenting at IAA Transportation. The company is also displaying new rigid 4×2 and 6×2 trucks, including a 26-tonne model equipped with a swap body and another configuration with a hooklift.
BYD said its European commercial vehicle range will eventually cover vehicles from 3.5 tonnes through to 44 tonnes.
The manufacturer also plans to offer related services and products, including charging infrastructure, energy storage systems, energy management and financing.
Competition Intensifies In European Electric Trucks
BYD’s entry comes as European truck manufacturers expand their own battery-electric offerings.
Daimler Truck, MAN and Volvo are presenting new electric heavy-duty trucks at IAA Transportation. Volvo, for example, quotes a range of up to 700 kilometres for its new FH Aero Electric.
However, manufacturer range figures should not be considered directly comparable because operating conditions, payloads, battery configurations and test procedures can differ between models.
Chinese manufacturers are also becoming increasingly active in the European heavy-duty electric truck market. Sany, Sinotruk and Skyworth are among the companies presenting electric heavy trucks in Hanover as they work to establish a presence in Europe.
The ETT 44 therefore places BYD directly into an increasingly crowded segment where battery capacity, charging speed, payload capability and operating costs are likely to be key factors for fleet operators evaluating electric alternatives to diesel trucks.