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KrAZ-5401C2: The Small City Tipper From Kremenchuk, 2016–2026
The KrAZ-5401C2 is a two-axle 4x2 dump truck that AutoKrAZ announced on 26 February 2016. It carries up to 10 tonnes in a 7 m³ body and turns in about 7.5 metres, which suits city streets and cramped building sites. Factory road tests ended in July 2016. Later units used a less powerful engine.
Key takeaways
- Announced by AutoKrAZ in Kremenchuk on 26 February 2016 as its first compact tipper.
- Launch data: 246 kW (335 hp) Euro 5 diesel, 9-speed manual, payload up to 10 t.
- Preliminary tests passed in July 2016 at a gross weight of 18,600 kg.
- A 2018 delivery used a 158 kW (215 hp) engine; KrAZ has been state-run since November 2022.
What AutoKrAZ announced in February 2016
KrAZ is known for heavy three-axle trucks such as the KrAZ-6322 and the KrAZ-6510 tipper. The 5401C2 was meant to fill a gap below them. AutoKrAZ aimed it at imported rivals and cited demand at home and abroad.
The truck uses the cab-over KrAZ-5401 chassis, first presented in 2013. The flat-fronted cab has a low seat on air springs and a fully adjustable steering column. The dump body has a remotely released tailgate and a twin-cylinder telescopic hoist.
KrAZ-5401C2 specifications
| Item | KrAZ-5401C2 (factory data, 2016) |
|---|---|
| Wheel arrangement | 4x2, two axles |
| Engine | Inline diesel, Euro 5 |
| Power | 246 kW (335 hp) at launch; 158 kW (215 hp) on the 2018 truck |
| Gearbox | 9-speed manual, single-plate clutch |
| Payload | up to 10,000 kg |
| Body | 7 m³ dump body |
| Length × width × height | 6,330 × 2,500 × 2,960 mm |
| Turning radius | about 7.5 m |
| Gross weight in tests | 18,600 kg |
By our calculation, the launch engine gives about 13 kW per tonne at the test weight; the power-to-weight calculator redoes the sum for other loads.
Road tests in the summer of 2016
On 25 July 2016 AutoKrAZ reported that the prototype had passed the maker's preliminary tests. These covered laboratory work and runs on certified road sections in Ukraine. Fully laden at 18,600 kg, it reached 110.2 km/h, well above the rated 95 km/h.
The measured fuel use rose steadily with speed:
| Constant speed | Fuel use |
|---|---|
| 40 km/h | 20.6 l/100 km |
| 50 km/h | 23.0 l/100 km |
| 60 km/h | 25.6 l/100 km |
| 80 km/h | 30.0 l/100 km |
The fuel cost calculator turns these figures into a diesel budget. Engineers were still refining the truck after the tests.
The 5401C2 and AutoKrAZ, 2016–2026
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 26 Feb 2016 | 5401C2 announced with the 246 kW engine |
| 25 Jul 2016 | Preliminary factory tests completed |
| 10 Sep 2018 | One truck delivered to the Poltava Mining and Concentrating Company, with a 158 kW Euro 5 engine |
| 2021 | AutoKrAZ in bankruptcy proceedings; managers put break-even at about 500 vehicles a year |
| Nov 2022 | The company's shares pass to the state for the period of martial law |
| 2023 | The former controlling shareholder says he will challenge the move in court |
The 2018 truck kept the 10-tonne rating and the 7 m³ body, but KrAZ did not explain its weaker engine. We found no record of large fleet orders for the model. See our history of the Kremenchuk works and two new KrAZ trucks of 2016.
Where the 5401C2 stands in 2026 and who it suits
The latest reports we could verify describe KrAZ as held by the state under martial law, with state and defence customers setting most orders. We could not confirm that the 5401C2 is still a regular catalogue model.
Who it suits: a municipal fleet or quarry that needs a short, nimble tipper with a full 10-tonne payload. A used buyer should check which engine is fitted, as the output changed after 2016. The heavier KrAZ ranges are listed in the KrAZ catalogue.
FAQ
What is the KrAZ-5401C2?
It is a two-axle 4x2 tipper from AutoKrAZ in Kremenchuk, announced in February 2016. It takes up to 10 tonnes in a 7 m³ body and was designed for narrow urban building sites.
How powerful is the KrAZ-5401C2 engine?
The launch announcement quoted a Euro 5 inline diesel of 246 kW (335 hp) with a 9-speed manual. A truck handed over in September 2018 had a 158 kW (215 hp) engine instead.
How fast can the KrAZ-5401C2 go?
Its rated top speed is 95 km/h. In the July 2016 factory tests, the fully loaded truck at a gross weight of 18,600 kg reached 110.2 km/h on certified Ukrainian road sections.
Who owns KrAZ now?
Since November 2022 the company's shares have been held by the Ukrainian state for the period of martial law. They may later be returned to the owners or compensated, according to the 2023 reports.
