Chinese truck makers have immortalized many of Volvo’s older cabs. The modernized bodies of Volvo FL12 or FH12 can be found on various brands and, in addition, numerous Chinese variants have a Renault Premium cab (examples here the here). However, apparently, this phenomenon does not only apply to older models, but also to the current generation of Volvo FH.
The body copy of the current “FH-ach” turns out to be the Chinese Dayun V9, which was first presented in 2019, but is only now being prepared for serial production and mass sale. From the front, this vehicle has received completely different headlights and a radiator grille, but details such as the sun visor, the mirror housings, the sunroof or even the windshield wiper system clearly refer to the Swedish truck. It is even more visible in profile, where all possible embossing, the general profile of the body and the glazing system are reminiscent of a slightly crooked Volvo. When we look inside, we find the same storage arrangement as the Globetrotter cabs, a typical Volvo shape of the dashboard and even the switch layout for the windows, mirrors, gearshift, interior lighting and handbrake familiar from the FH model.
Interestingly, I have never found any mention of official cooperation between Dayun and Volvo Trucks. There are claims in Chinese publications that Dayun is “inspired” by the FH model. So unlike many official projects where the Europeans simply sold their booths to the Chinese, here everything looks like an ordinary copy, made without the permission of the Swedes. I’d be surprised too if Volvo Trucks lends its current body for such a questionable project. Especially since Dayun is considered a rather second-class brand in China, slightly out of step with the market leaders.
For those interested, I add that the Dayun H9 uses a Cummnins engine, built in China under an official American license. It’s a 510hp unit and complies with the China 6 emission standard (comparable to our Euro 6). Added to this are the automatic and manual gearboxes of the Chinese brand Fast, which offer 16 gears. As for potential markets, Dayun is a brand known mainly in China and Central and East Asian countries, although since 2021 it also has a representative office in Ukraine.
