French equipment maker Manitou and Chinese forklift manufacturer Hangcha are partnering to create new batteries for electric heavy material handling equipment.
Manitou is a well-known company in the West. Hangcha is also a significant player in the industry, having started manufacturing forklifts in 1956 and now ranking as the eighth-largest industrial vehicle manufacturer globally.
The new joint venture will focus on upgrading existing lead-acid batteries in their vehicles with longer-lasting lithium-ion batteries to extend their use. Future plans include diesel retrofits and the development of entirely new electric products.
Zhao Limin, Chairman and General Manager of Hangcha Group, stated that this collaboration marks a new stage in their partnership and a key step in their global strategy. He highlighted the combined technological and manufacturing strengths will boost the power systems for new energy industrial vehicles, supporting the shift to electrification and sustainable development.
[Image of Manitou MHT 12330 forklift]
This partnership aligns with both companies’ strategic goals. Manitou’s “LIFT” roadmap aims to increase its electric vehicle lineup, with EVs expected to make up 28% of its forklift sales by 2030. Hangcha has also announced its intention to become fully electric by the end of 2025.
The joint venture will hire engineers, operators, sales representatives, and service technicians. The city of Le Mans will support the recruitment and training of these employees.
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I’m Rohan Mehta, the voice behind KhelRe—a trusted and steadily growing blog dedicated to electric vehicles (EVs) in India. With over five years of experience as a tech and automotive blogger, I turned my frustrations with owning an EV into a mission: to help others make more intelligent choices in this fast-evolving world of electric mobility.
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