Motorway debuts China commercial vehicle brand Qingling Motors; relaunches Ssangyong in Singapore

Qingling Motors’ introduction comes just ahead of government incentives commencing in 2026

Automotive group Motorway and Qingling Motors launched an electric heavy vehicle (EHV) on Friday (Nov 7), marking the brand’s debut in the Republic.

Motorway also launched an electric pickup truck from Korean manufacturer KG Mobility (KGM), formerly known as Ssangyong.

Priced from S$155,888 with a Certificate of Entitlement (COE), the Qingling EQ2 has a 100.5 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery and claimed range of up to 515 kilometres on a full charge.

It is capable of direct-current fast charging at up to 120 kilowatts (kW), which will replenish the battery from 20 per cent to 80 per cent full in half an hour.

The EQ2 is the first vehicle in Singapore from Hong Kong Stock Exchange-listed Qingling Motors, a Chongqing-based manufacturer of commercial vehicles.

Qingling (S) is the authorised distributor for Qingling Motors in Singapore. It is a joint venture that is majority owned by Motorway Group, an automotive company that sells new and used cars, as well as provides leasing and rental services.

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“(The) EQ2 is the ideal solution for urban logistics, last-mile delivery and corporate fleets aiming to reduce their carbon footprint and operating costs,” said Qingling (S) in a statement on Thursday.

The introduction of the vehicle comes just ahead of incentives for electric heavy commercial vehicles that commence in 2026.

Heavy charge

Under the Heavy Vehicle Zero Emissions Scheme, from Jan 1, 2026, owners of newly registered EHVs will receive an incentive of S$40,000 per vehicle, and can get co-funding of up to S$30,000 per accompanying charger.

The Business Times has queried Qingling (S) for an updated price that includes the incentives.

The new scheme was announced in March. As reported earlier this year, industry observers said the move would bring the price of EHVs closer to that of diesel models, thereby kick-starting adoption and drawing more brands to launch such vehicles in Singapore.

However, they also said that most purchasers of EHVs would also delay buying until 2026, when incentives kick in. Currently, a number of manufacturers, mostly Chinese, offer EHVs here, including BYD, Maxus, Farizon and Sany.

Founded in 1985, Qingling Motors is a joint venture between Qingling Motors (Group), which owns 50.1 per cent, and Japanese vehicle manufacturer Isuzu, which owns 20 per cent.

The majority owner of Qingling Motors (Group) is Chongqing Yufu Holding Group, an investment company controlled by the city of Chongqing.

Ssangyong becomes KG Mobility

Motorway also launched the first model under Korean vehicle brand KGM, the Musso EV, a fully electric pickup truck.

Priced at S$113,888 without COE, the Musso EV can be registered as a light commercial vehicle or a goods-cum-passenger vehicle. The latter allows the truck to be registered to individuals or companies, and to carry passengers.

The pickup has a 206 horsepower motor and 80.6 kWh battery that delivers a claimed range of 420 km. The maximum charging speed is 120 kW through direct-current fast charging, which will bring the battery to 80 per cent charge from 20 per cent in 36 minutes.

While there are at least two electric pickup trucks on sale in Singapore currently – the Maxus eTerron 9 and Riddara RD6 – the Musso EV is the first Korean-made model to arrive here. It will be sold alongside the existing diesel version of the Musso.

KGM is the brand formerly known as the Ssangyong, under the Ssangyong Motor Company.

The company has had a troubled history, changing hands multiple times in the past two decades with owners including Daewoo, SAIC and Mahindra. In 2022, it was acquired by Korean chaebol KG Group and renamed as KG Mobility.

Motorway is the authorised distributor of Ssangyong in Singapore through its subsidiary Motorway Ssangyong. Representatives told BT that KGM plans to launch passenger cars in 2026, including petrol-electric hybrids and fully electric vehicles.