CRRC holds half the global rolling stock market — and is exporting high-speed trains to Europe for the first time

中国中车 / CRRC — the world's largest railway rolling stock manufacturer — controlled roughly 50% of the global market for this equipment as of early 2026, leveraging scale in manufacturing high-speed trains, metro cars, and locomotives for markets across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, according to industry reviews.

A first breakthrough specifically into Europe

A landmark 2026 event: a contract between CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles and Serbia's Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure for high-speed trains on the Hungary-Serbia line. It's the first time a Chinese high-speed train system capable of running above 200 km/h has been exported specifically to Europe — a market traditionally closed to Chinese rail technology due to strong local manufacturers like Siemens and Alstom.

The Asian front remains a priority

Alongside the European breakthrough, work continues on the southern section of Thailand's high-speed railway — from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, roughly 250 km with six stations, slated to open in 2026. Such projects aren't one-off contracts but part of a multi-year "railway diplomacy" program through which China builds long-term infrastructure ties with neighboring countries.

A shift from selling equipment to servicing fleets

A separate strategic priority for the company is developing international maintenance and lifecycle-extension services: monetizing already-delivered fleets and improving margins through long-term service contracts rather than one-off sales alone. It's the same shift seen among other Chinese heavy-equipment exporters — from one-time delivery to building long-term customer relationships through service.

An overview of China's heavy industry and infrastructure projects is covered in the Top 10 Chinese logistics companies program; the company's card is available on the GlobalTechTour site.