Why Are African Buyers Choosing Higher-Spec Refurbished HOWO Trucks?

Based on recent inquiries and export orders handled by Qingdao Alston Motors, more African buyers are moving beyond basic used-truck repair and choosing higher-spec refurbished HOWO trucks with remanufactured 371HP or 430HP engines, new NX/TX cab assemblies and deeper mechanical refurbishment.

The reason is not simply appearance. Buyers want to keep the cost advantage of a used truck while reducing uncertainty in the engine, transmission, electrical system, air system and cab condition.

For many fleets, this creates a practical middle option between a low-cost repaired truck and a much more expensive new heavy-duty truck.

1. What Is Changing in the Refurbished HOWO Truck Market?

Buyers are increasingly judging a refurbished truck by its final mechanical condition rather than its original production year alone.

Older HOWO 7 trucks remain familiar across many African markets, but suitable donor vehicles in China are becoming less consistent as the domestic vehicle population ages and clean examples become harder to source.

At the same time, overseas buyers have become more familiar with the newer appearance and driver environment associated with HOWO NX and TX trucks.

This has created demand for two distinct vehicle types:

• genuine used HOWO NX or TX trucks when suitable original vehicles are available;
• qualified older SINOTRUK/HOWO chassis that undergo deeper refurbishment and receive new NX- or TX-type cab assemblies.

These should not be described as the same product.

A refurbished truck fitted with a new NX/TX cab does not automatically become an original factory-produced HOWO NX or TX. The original chassis identity, VIN and export documentation should remain clear to the buyer.

This transparency is increasingly important when customers compare available used HOWO trucks for African operations.

2. Why Are Remanufactured 371HP Engines Becoming More Attractive?

A remanufactured 371HP engine offers a stronger balance of cost and mechanical predictability than an ordinary repaired engine.

With conventional engine refurbishment, technicians may repair faults and replace components that are clearly damaged or badly worn. Serviceable original parts often remain inside the engine.

A higher-level remanufacturing process goes further.

For the remanufactured 371HP engines specified by Alston Motors, a qualified original engine block or main housing is inspected, cleaned and reconditioned, while most internal working and wear-related components are replaced with new parts.

Depending on the engine condition, replacement work can include:

• cylinder liners;
• pistons and piston rings;
• main and connecting-rod bearings;
• seals and gaskets;
• valves and related components;
• oil-system components;
• cooling-system components;
• fuel-system parts requiring replacement;
• other internal wear parts identified after dismantling.

For this configuration, Alston Motors generally describes the completed engine as approximately 95% new by component condition.

That does not mean every remanufactured engine in the market follows the same standard. Buyers should always ask what was actually retained, what was replaced and how the completed engine was tested.

Buyers who want a more detailed explanation can review our remanufactured 371HP engine for used HOWO trucks guide.

3. How Does a Remanufactured Engine Compare With a Repaired or New Engine?

The remanufactured option sits between a repaired used engine and a completely new engine in both cost and condition predictability.

For current configurations supplied by Alston Motors, a remanufactured 371HP engine can typically reduce engine-related purchase cost by approximately USD 1,000–1,500 compared with fitting a completely new replacement engine.

For a five-truck order, that represents approximately USD 5,000–7,500 in potential savings.

The difference can instead be allocated to new tires, brakes, suspension work, spare parts, hydraulic components or shipping.

For fleet buyers, this is why engine choice should be evaluated as part of the complete truck specification rather than as an isolated component.

4. What Does a Real Remanufactured 371HP Engine Look Like?

Workshop evidence is more useful than simply seeing the words “remanufactured engine” on a quotation.

The following video shows a remanufactured 371HP engine prepared for a refurbished HOWO heavy-duty truck:

YouTube Video – Remanufactured 371HP Engine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CMYjgaViU0

Video Caption:
Remanufactured 371HP engine prepared for a refurbished HOWO truck. A qualified original structural core is reconditioned while most internal working and wear-related components are replaced.

A clean exterior alone does not prove engine condition.

Buyers should also request:

• engine startup footage;
• idle-condition video;
• oil-pressure checks;
• compression results;
• workshop-stage photos;
• final road-test footage;
• used HOWO truck refurbishment records.

This is especially important for overseas buyers because once the truck arrives in Africa, a major engine repair can mean additional downtime, local labor cost and parts sourcing.

The strongest evidence connects the truck's condition before refurbishment, the work carried out in the workshop and the final functional test to the same identifiable vehicle.

5. Why Are NX and TX Cab Upgrades Becoming More Common?

A new cab can significantly improve the driver environment and final presentation of a refurbished truck, but it should be combined with genuine mechanical work.

Older cabs may show years of wear in the dashboard, seats, interior panels, electrical components, door mechanisms, glass seals and exterior structure.

Replacing the cab with a new NX- or TX-type assembly can improve:

• exterior condition;
• dashboard and interior finish;
• driver seating;
• door and window condition;
• electrical components;
• lighting;
• cabin sealing;
• overall vehicle presentation.

For fleets where drivers spend long hours in the truck, cab condition is not purely cosmetic.

However, a new cab should never be used to hide poor mechanical condition underneath.

A proper HOWO truck refurbishment process should evaluate the engine, gearbox, frame, suspension, brakes, air system, wiring and drivetrain before cosmetic upgrades are completed.

A truck with a new cab but a weak engine, damaged chassis or unresolved drivetrain problems is still a poor refurbishment.

6. Is a Truck With an NX/TX Cab the Same as a Factory HOWO NX or TX?

No. The installed cab and the original vehicle identity are two separate issues.

HOWO NX and HOWO TX are factory SINOTRUK product families with their own original configurations.

Some refurbished export trucks instead begin with qualified older HOWO or HOHAN chassis and then receive a new NX- or TX-type cab assembly during refurbishment.

When this happens, the vehicle should be described transparently, for example:

Refurbished SINOTRUK truck fitted with a new HOWO NX cab assembly

rather than implying that the original vehicle left the factory as a HOWO NX.

Before ordering, buyers should confirm:

• original chassis model;
• VIN or chassis number;
• original vehicle identity;
• installed cab specification;
• installed engine specification;
• refurbishment work completed;
• export documentation description.

This distinction matters because a newer appearance does not change the historical identity of the chassis.

For Qingdao Alston Motors, transparency about original vehicle identity is part of higher-spec refurbishment rather than something that should be hidden behind a newer cab.

7. What Should a Higher-Spec Refurbishment Package Include?

A higher-spec refurbishment should renew the systems that most directly affect reliability, safety and daily operation.

A typical package may include:

This type of refurbishment can produce a near-new presentation with substantially renewed mechanical systems, while still retaining a qualified used chassis.

That is a more accurate description than simply calling the vehicle “almost new.”

Qingdao Alston Motors positions higher-spec refurbished HOWO trucks as a middle option between basic used-truck repair and the substantially higher cost of purchasing a new heavy-duty truck.

For the buyer, the value comes from knowing where the money has been spent: engine condition, drivetrain, braking, chassis, cab, tires and other systems that affect actual operation.

8. How Should the Engine and Complete Truck Be Tested?

The finished vehicle should pass measurable mechanical checks before shipment, regardless of how many new components have been installed.

For refurbished HOWO trucks inspected by Alston Motors, important reference points include:

Technicians should also inspect:

• starting performance;
• idle stability;
• abnormal engine noise;
• exhaust smoke;
• oil leakage;
• coolant leakage;
• operating temperature;
• clutch engagement;
• gearbox shifting;
• steering response;
• braking;
• drivetrain vibration.

The purpose of pre-shipment inspection for refurbished HOWO trucks is not simply to demonstrate that the truck can start.

It is to verify that the engine, transmission, braking system, steering, chassis and other major systems work together under actual operating conditions before the vehicle leaves China.

For overseas buyers, measurable inspection results are more useful than descriptions such as “good condition” or “fully refurbished.”

9. Should Buyers Choose a 371HP or 430HP Remanufactured Engine?

371HP remains practical for many standard applications, while 430HP can be more suitable when additional power reserve is required.

A remanufactured 371HP engine is commonly suitable for:

• 6x4 dump trucks;
• standard tractor trucks;
• construction transport;
• general road haulage;
• moderate terrain;
• buyers prioritizing familiar maintenance and lower cost.

A 430HP remanufactured engine becomes more attractive where the truck will operate with:

• heavier trailer combinations;
• longer transport routes;
• stronger gradients;
• higher operating intensity;
• greater need for power reserve.

Horsepower should not be selected in isolation.

Buyers should also consider payload, transmission ratio, axle configuration, road conditions, daily operating hours, fuel quality and maintenance capability.

Based on Alston Motors' refurbishment and after-sales experience, a professionally prepared remanufactured engine can provide a practical one-to-two-year service cycle under normal operating loads and correct maintenance, but this should not be treated as a fixed lifespan or unconditional guarantee.

Continuous overloading, overheating, poor lubrication, contaminated fuel or inadequate maintenance can shorten engine life significantly.

The broader trend seen in recent customer inquiries is that many African buyers no longer want only the cheapest refurbished truck available. They increasingly ask for a truck with a more predictable engine, newer cab, deeper system renewal and clearer refurbishment records.

For overseas buyers, the most important purchasing principle remains simple:

Confirm the original vehicle identity, know what was retained, know what was replaced, and verify how the completed truck performs before it leaves China.

That is what separates a professionally refurbished truck from one that has merely been repaired and repainted.

Written by: Bruce Li
Reviewed by: Alston Motors Export & Technical Team
Company: Qingdao Alston Motors Co., Ltd