"‘You know (do not) know that I’ve been using imported trucks,’ said Liang Xiwu, Chairman of Shenzhen Antuo Investment Development Co., Ltd., speaking in a thick Cantonese accent. ‘I never used domestic brands. Trucks.’"
In November 1998, Shenzhen Antuo was established, focusing on stone materials, concrete, earth and stone construction, and municipal engineering projects. Liang Xiwu, the company’s leader, currently serves as Vice President of the Shenzhen Concrete Association and a member of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress.
**2000: Importing Was a Legend**
In 2000, as the company expanded rapidly, its existing fleet couldn’t keep up. Liang, who had long admired a well-known European brand (referred to here as “Multiple Blockâ€), began negotiations with several foreign companies to import concrete mixers and dump trucks. "The talks were really tough," he recalled. "The foreigners wanted to take all our money. The price per unit was five times higher than domestic models." Despite the high cost, he believed the investment would bring greater returns.
But securing the import license proved even harder. At the time, China was cracking down on smuggling, and Guangdong faced strict controls. After exhausting his network, Antuo managed to get 70 tax-free quotas from the State Economic and Trade Commission—but only 35 vehicles were eventually imported. When the cars arrived at customs, they were detained for six months because their model wasn’t listed in the official catalog. "They were worried about the quality," Liang explained. "After investigations and confirmations from European authorities, we finally got them released."
**2001–2004: The Collapse of the 'Myth'**
Liang admitted that while the imported trucks had superior quality—like a 9cm wider beam—their maintenance costs were a nightmare. "We asked the foreign company to provide service manuals and set up an after-sales center, but they resisted. They didn’t want to share technical details."
When parts broke, replacement costs were ten times higher than domestic ones. And when parts were out of stock, it could take a month to get them. "One truck sat idle for weeks because a small part wasn't available," said Deputy General Manager Hao Zhong. "It caused huge losses. Even worse, they’d just replace the whole assembly instead of the broken part."
**2005: Choosing Domestic Instead of Foreign**
After years of frustration, Liang decided to switch. In 2004, during a tender, he opted for the Xingma mixer truck equipped with Hualing chassis. "Foreign cooperation failed," he said bluntly. "Their service wasn’t good enough, and they kept secrets. We couldn’t afford to repeat the same mistakes."
He praised Valin Motors for using Mitsubishi Fuso technology, known for reliability, and Xingma for its strong reputation in the mixer industry. "After a year, the trucks performed well and were easy to maintain."
**Business Is About People**
Liang developed a close relationship with Valin and Xingma’s leaders. "Liu Hanru is very honest," he said. "He talked openly about strengths and weaknesses, which made me trust him." He emphasized that business is about people, not just products.
Today, Antuo has 47 trucks powered by Valin chassis, with another 30 Hualing trucks on the way. "No matter where the car comes from, choosing the right partner is key," he said. "If you don’t choose well, you’ll suffer."
**Reporter’s Reflection: The Foreign Moon Isn’t Always Round**
For over two decades, we’ve heard that “the foreign moon is rounder.†But many companies still believe imported goods are better, especially from Europe or the U.S. However, Liang Xiwu’s experience shows otherwise.
He once idolized foreign brands, but now he doesn’t. According to him, the two main issues with importing are: first, high maintenance costs and limited availability of spare parts; second, lack of transparency and trust from foreign suppliers. Many foreign companies treat Chinese partners with suspicion, fearing knowledge transfer. They often force full replacements instead of fixing individual parts, violating consumer rights.
In contrast, domestic brands may have minor flaws, but their after-sales support is timely and more open. As Liang put it, "The foreign moon isn’t always better, and China’s isn’t necessarily missing either."
Corn breeding detasseler
Gongzhuling Huaxi Agricultural Machinery Manufacturing Co.LTD , https://www.hxzbjx.com