EV construction machines, from China

one more challenge for US industry...

China Built a Caterpillar Killer — And It Costs Half as Much - YouTube by Gritty Industry:

The video explores the growing market dominance of Chinese heavy equipment manufacturers—most notably Sany Heavy Industry—and how they are challenging legacy Western industry giants like Caterpillar. By offering comparable equipment (such as excavators) at roughly half the price ($75,000 vs. $140,000 for similar models), Chinese manufacturers have rapidly gained global market share, particularly across developing nations and medium-duty applications.

• Global Market Shift: In 2020, Sany surpassed Caterpillar in global excavator sales for the first time. Today, 3 of the world's top 6 construction equipment manufacturers are Chinese.
  
  
• Significant Price Disparity: A major selling point for Chinese machinery is cost efficiency—offering roughly 90% of the capability/efficiency of traditional brands at ~50% of the purchase price.
  
  
• Underlying Industry Factors:
  
  
  • Pricing & Profit Margins: Commentators note that legacy brands like Caterpillar have high profit margins and rising maintenance/parts costs, opening up headroom for cheaper competitors to thrive.
    
    
  • Target Applications: Chinese brands currently dominate heavy in medium-duty construction and agricultural work, while traditional heavyweights like Caterpillar maintain a strong hold on ultra-heavy-duty environments (e.g., major mining operations).
    
    
  • Technology Acquisition & Manufacturing: Caterpillar itself operates manufacturing and component plants in China (e.g., Xuzhou, Wuxi), contributing to local technical expertise and supply chain growth over time.
    
    
• Challenges for Low-Cost Competitors: Critics point out potential drawbacks of budget equipment, including lower resale value, shorter expected lifespans, potential supply chain delays for spare parts, and less established dealership networks in regions like North America.