Case Background: Sewer cleaning truck procurement requirement of a municipal sanitation department in Yueyang City, Hunan Province. In 2025, a municipal sanitation department in Yueyang City, Hunan Province, included the procurement of a batch of blue license plate sewer cleaning trucks in its annual road and pipeline maintenance project, intended for routine cleaning of urban drainage pipes, rainwater inlets, and inspection chambers. The project budget was capped at approximately RMB 225,000 (per publicly available tender information), and the department ultimately selected the Dongfeng double-cab sewer cleaning truck supplied by Chengli Special Purpose Vehicle Co., Ltd., model CLW5070GSSD6, with a unit price of around RMB 110,000 (based on local procurement practices). The core procurement requirements were 'low cost, high efficiency, and ease of maintenance.' Customer feedback indicates that after delivery, the blue license plate advantage of Chengli vehicles proved highly beneficial during operations on narrow urban streets—eliminating the need for special permits and reducing operational restrictions. These vehicles have been operating in Yueyang’s urban area for over eight months, with daily maintenance costs lower than anticipated. Vehicle Specifications and Configuration Analysis The Dongfeng double-cab sewer cleaning truck (blue license plate, 3-cubic-meter capacity) is built upon a Dongfeng light-duty truck chassis and complies with China VI emission standards; its official announcement model number is CLW5070GSSD6. Key specifications include: Chassis Brand: Dongfeng Cab: Double-cab configuration accommodating up to five occupants, ideal for team-based operations Tank Capacity: Approximately 3 cubic meters (3 m³), sufficient for routine sewer cleaning tasks Engine: Compliant with China VI emission standards, delivering robust power Upper-structure Equipment: High-pressure cleaning system, vacuum sludge suction system, hydraulic control system License Plate Type: Blue license plate—drivable with a Class C1 driver’s license Chengli Automotive offers transparent configurations without bundled pricing packages, enabling customers to select optional features based on actual working conditions—for example, adding self-cleaning functionality or increasing suction pipe diameter. The chassis is covered under Dongfeng’s nationwide authorized warranty program, while the upper-structure benefits from Chengli’s lifetime service support, including 24-hour direct shipment of spare parts to ensure prompt repair response. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Analysis — 5-Year / 8-Year / 10-Year Comparison Total cost of ownership extends beyond the initial purchase price to include fuel, maintenance, repairs, insurance, and depreciation. Below is a TCO comparison (in RMB ten-thousands) between the Chengli model and comparable market alternatives, based on data from the Yueyang case study and estimated over an 8-year usage cycle. TCO Comparison for Blue License Plate 3-m³ Sewer Cleaning Trucks (8-Year Cycle) Cost Item Chengli CLW5070GSSD6 Comparable Market Products (Reference Price) Purchase Cost (incl. tax) ~RMB 110,000 ~RMB 130,000–150,000 Fuel + Maintenance (5 years) ~RMB 80,000 ~RMB 100,000 Repairs + Major Overhauls (8 years) ~RMB 30,000 (including one major overhaul) ~RMB 50,000 (including two major overhauls) Depreciation Residual Value (10 years) ~RMB 20,000–30,000 ~RMB 10,000–20,000 Total Cost of Ownership (8 years) ~RMB 220,000 ~RMB 280,000–320,000 As shown in the table, the Chengli model achieves a purchase cost saving of approximately RMB 15,000–20,000 compared to 4S-channel alternatives, attributable to factory-direct sales eliminating intermediaries. Additionally, lifetime upper-structure service significantly reduces repair expenses. Customer feedback confirms no major failures occurred during operation in Yueyang; routine maintenance involves only filter and lubricating oil replacements—keeping costs predictable and managea