The commercial vehicle axle is now decided by its housing, not its gear set. On 9 November 2026 Xiangyang Daily reported that Hubei Tongqiao Technology runs one heavy-truck and one new-energy line at about 7,000 axle housings a month, more than 3,000 of them to Dongfeng Dana Axle, with new-energy light-truck housings at 70% of output.
A Tube Weld Becomes the Weak Point
The conventional housing welds axle tubes into a cast or pressed centre. Tongqiao replaced that weld with hydraulic bulging, expanding a seamless tube inside a die so the spindle end forms in one piece with the body. The company says the result has no stress discontinuity and higher stiffness, with internal cleanliness that suits new-entrant light trucks.
Six Rounds to an Integrated Spindle
In 2026 Tongqiao and Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle ran six rounds of work on housing-and-spindle integration, patented the bulged housing and automatic loading equipment, and reached final pre-production validation. The process is also aimed at an e-axle for an export pickup platform called the Shark, where overseas approval is still open. JAC's October report on 6 November 2026 put pickup sales at 6,969, up 70.06%.
The Replacement Window Closes 31 December
China's 2026 scrappage programme for operating trucks, Transport Ministry document 2026 No. 36, covers China IV and older medium and heavy trucks and closes on 31 December, first come, first served. Lu'an opened intake on 5 November, Dalian on 9 November. Every scrapped truck pulls a replacement front axle or drive axle into the aftermarket, where housing corrosion and part numbers decide the order.
What It Means for Zhucheng Yihe Axle
Zhucheng Yihe Axle Co., Ltd. builds front axles and drive axle assemblies in Shandong, and the housing is the part it can least afford to buy in. A one-piece bulged housing removes weld inspection, holds bore alignment and shortens the ramp for a new e-axle variant. The front axle stays forged, because a floor-mounted battery pack loads it first.
By 9 November 2026 the commercial vehicle axle in China had moved its edge from gear cutting to housing forming: a hydroformed one-piece housing with an integrated spindle now fixes e-axle mass, oil cleanliness and durability.
