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December 28, 2006 8:00 AM, EST

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i>Editor’s Note: The writer recently spent time in eastern China. This is the third in a series of reports looking at that nation’s trucking, truck manufacturing and logistics industries.

BEIJING — China’s manufacturing powerhouse already turns out a stunning mountain of heavy- and medium-duty trucks, but to the relief of the outside world’s truck makers, they aren’t yet ready for prime time.

Until now, Chinese trucks were plentiful and cheap, but not up to the standards fleets in the West expect.

China builds trucks almost exclusively for its domestic market — trucks designed for three or four years of grueling duty with little maintenance, and meeting virtually no emission or safety standards.

For the full story, see the Dec. 18-25 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.