On 15 July, Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle and Fast Group held a joint flag-off ceremony in Chengdu for a new round of the "Brilliant China, Easy Travel" real-world road test campaign. Following their earlier collaboration on drivetrain integration, the two manufacturers are now field-testing a Dongfeng Tianjin KR PLUS refrigerated truck equipped with the Fast Yixing AMT automated manual transmission and a hydraulic retarder. The vehicle will travel across five southwestern provinces, with elevation changes exceeding 1,100 metres, to evaluate efficiency, safety, and driver comfort under demanding real-world conditions.

A Multi-Province Test on Some of China's Most Demanding Roads

The route has been planned through regions known for long descents, sharp curves, and unpredictable weather. Test sections include the 26-kilometre continuous downhill through the Yaxi Expressway Niba Mountain tunnel complex, the 51-kilometre climb and twin-spiral tunnel group at Tuowushan, the 27-kilometre high-risk descent at Dafengyakou, and the Loushan and Wulingshan tunnel corridors. Live road-running broadcasts and product briefings will accompany the test, allowing fleets and operators to observe the truck's performance and maintenance behaviour under sustained heavy load.

Yuan Xiaoyang, Deputy General Manager of Regional Marketing at Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle, said the programme reflects the brand's long-standing focus on reliability. He emphasised that the company wants the KR PLUS to be evaluated through real fuel consumption data, real mountain grades, and real operating conditions rather than controlled laboratory figures. His counterpart at Fast, Li Xiaoliang, added that the campaign marks a new phase in the two companies' strategic partnership, with continued work on transmission calibration, scenario-specific drivetrain packages, and service network support for regional transport operators.

Dongfeng KR PLUS Refrigerated Truck: Powertrain and Operating Specifications

The test unit is the KR PLUS refrigerated variant of Dongfeng's medium-duty line, a configuration that typically carries a higher fuel load than dry-cargo equivalents due to the cooling system. Power is supplied by a Cummins D7.0 engine rated at 380 hp, paired with a Fast 9JZ 9-speed automated manual transmission and a Dana 9-tonne lightweight rear axle. The combination is intended to balance climbing ability, transmission efficiency, and total vehicle weight for temperature-controlled logistics.

Published figures from the manufacturer quote a peak engine torque of 1,400 N·m and a 30 percent improvement in transient response compared with earlier calibrations. The Fast 9-speed AMT is reported to deliver a mechanical efficiency of around 98.4 percent, supporting overall fuel consumption reductions described as between 5 and 10 percent depending on duty cycle, with an additional automatic-transmission advantage of roughly 6 percent in matched scenarios. Buyers and fleet engineers reviewing the platform should note that these are manufacturer-claimed values and will be substantiated during the southwest road test.

Safety Architecture: AMT Integrated with Hydraulic Retarder

The Fast Yixing AMT is positioned as the first automated manual transmission in the Chinese medium-duty segment designed to operate together with a hydraulic retarder. On extended descents, the retarder provides contact-free auxiliary braking intended to reduce the risk of brake-fade events and remove the need for water dousing systems commonly used on Chinese mountain routes, allowing the vehicle to maintain a near-constant downhill speed. On climbs and in tunnel sequences, the AMT's close gear ratios and shift logic are intended to keep the engine in its working range and reduce driver workload.

For international buyers, dealers, and sourcing teams, the campaign is worth monitoring because the test data generated over the next weeks could inform decisions on importing KR PLUS variants or matching competitor medium-duty platforms against documented performance in high-altitude, mixed-gradient operations. Fleet operators in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Africa who routinely face similar long-grade routes may find the results relevant when evaluating used truck inventory or new-platform procurement.

The southwest route, the extended testing period, and the live data broadcasts indicate that Dongfeng and Fast are aiming to convert the campaign into a reference dataset rather than a marketing demonstration. For cross-border dealers and exporters, the final published results on fuel consumption, brake thermal performance, and transmission behaviour on steep grades will be the most practical indicators of how the KR PLUS platform can be positioned for fleets working in mountainous regions.

Dongfeng and Fast have stated that this campaign is the starting point of a broader industry engagement focused on safety and efficiency in commercial transport, with further product and service updates expected as the route progresses. Operators and buyers interested in the KR PLUS platform, related refrigerated variants, or other medium- and heavy-duty trucks can explore current listings on CVTrader vehicle inventory and review available exporters on the CVTrader dealer directory. Importers and service partners looking to expand their commercial vehicle portfolio can also review the requirements on become a dealer.