A tractor unit (or simply "tractor") is a type of large truck or semi-truck where the power unit (cab) and the cargo unit (trailer) are connected via a towing mechanism; this design allows the cab to detach from its original trailer to tow a different one, and conversely, allows the trailer to detach from its original cab to be towed by another. These vehicles are frequently used for transporting large quantities of goods within or between workshops-such as moving parts from warehouses to assembly lines in automotive manufacturing or transporting luggage at airports-and are also significant products for China's automotive exports; for instance, in March 2026, large numbers of domestically produced tractor units were exported from ports like Zhangjiagang and Changshu to African nations such as Tanzania and Cameroon.
"Tractor unit" was also the official term used to define the "A2" driving license category prior to the implementation of the *Provisions on the Application for and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses* (Ministry of Public Security Order No. 162) on April 1, 2022 (the category is now officially designated as "heavy-duty tractor-trailer"). Under the framework of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), tractor units represent a key vehicle type driving export growth to member nations; for example, in 2025, Jilin Province exported automobiles worth 1.48 billion yuan to other RCEP members, marking a year-on-year increase of 24%.
