Published on: 2026-05-14
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –
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The American company Cummins has been cooperating with China for more than half a century: from the initial technology transfer to the creation of joint ventures and the use of Chinese research centers for supplying the global market. Natan Stoner, Vice President of Cummins and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cummins China, noted: “The history of Cummins’ development in China is a history of joint learning and growth together with the Chinese market.”
Cooperation between Cummins and China began in 1941 during World War II. At that time, as part of the United States’ military aid, military trucks and patrol boats equipped with Cummins engines were supplied to China. In 1975, Cummins became one of the first American companies to enter China in search of business partnerships. After the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the USA in 1979, Cummins opened a representative office in Beijing. Since 1981, the company began producing engines in Chongqing, Xiangyang (in Hubei province), and other locations based on licensing agreements or joint ventures.The head of the company DFAC, Zhang Xiaofan, noted that Cummins was one of the first to introduce such advanced technologies in China as turbocharging and electronic control systems, laying the foundation for the modernization of China’s industry.
At the Dongfeng Cummins factory in the city of Xiangyang, Hubei Province, intelligent manipulators and computer vision systems operate efficiently, allowing an engine to be produced every few minutes. This factory is a national model enterprise of intelligent manufacturing and a “green” factory. Local authorities of Xiangyang have provided individual support to the enterprise. In November 2021, an agreement was signed, and in the same month a construction permit was obtained; on May 30, 2023, the factory was put into operation, and the first engine rolled off the conveyor.Currently, the share of localization of Cummins components has increased from 20% to 99%, which contributes to the development of related enterprises.
In the economic and technological development zone of Ulyanovsk, the Cummins Research Center is located in East Asia, where almost 500 young Chinese engineers work. The engines they develop are exported to Australia, the USA, and other countries, and more than 20% of the center’s work is dedicated to research and development of products for foreign markets. Since 2022, Cummins has invested an additional nearly 7 billion yuan.
Natan Stoner summarizes that in China there is not only a huge market, but also hardworking engineers, efficient government services, and a complete production chain. “In China, you can quickly turn an idea into reality.” He believes that the story of Cummins is a miniature version of Sino-American cooperation: “When we work as partners, we can definitely help each other in development and thrive together.”
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