Engine family
SDEC (Shangchai) generator engines: who makes them, the series, and how to check them
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Sinospect supplies generating sets from China with the engine series on the quotation and the maker and plant in the order contract, and checks each engine’s dataplate against the order before it ships. To have an offer checked, send it: we reply with what the review would cover and any fee, before paid work begins. Send the offer you want checked →
One company, four names
Shanghai New Power Automotive Technology Co., Ltd. (SNAT) is the former Shanghai Diesel Engine Co., Ltd., founded in 1947 and restructured in 1993 into a company with A and B shares on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SNAT). SAIC Motor is its controlling shareholder, with 38.86% of the shares (SNAT, shareholding). On offers it appears as SDEC, Shangchai, 上柴 or 上柴动力. Its official site is now snat.com and its export site sdeciepower.com; the old sdec.com.cn domain no longer resolves.
SNAT also holds 50% of Shanghai MHI Engine (SME), which builds industrial diesel engines of 500 to 1,800 kW for emergency generating sets under licence from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engine & Turbocharger (MHI). SNAT reports that SME sold 1,117 high-power engines for power plants in 2025 (SNAT 2025 annual report). An offer with a Mitsubishi engine from China should name SME as its maker.
The genset-engine series
SDEC’s export site lists these genset-engine series at 1,500 rpm (SDEC); its Chinese catalogue adds the VX, J, G and R series (SNAT).
Source: SDEC export site, genset-engine overview, 1,500 rpm.
The model pages give rated and standby power separately, and do not always match the overview: the overview puts the SC25G and SC27G together at 505–602 kW, while the SC25G’s own page gives 405–459 kW rated. Quote from the model page.
| Model | Rated, kW | Standby, kW | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SC25G (610–690D2) | 405–459 | 445.5–505 | 12 cylinders; upgrade of the 12V135 |
| SC27G (755–900D2) | 505–602 | 560–662 | 12 cylinders; upgrade of the 12V135 |
| SC33W (990–1150D2) | 660–782 | 726–860 | |
| 6WTAA35 | 818–1,118 | 900–1,230 | |
| VK series (12KTA58-G31 to G37) | 1,160–2,010 | 1,280–2,210 | 57.2 L |
Sources: SC25G and SC27G, W series, VK series. SDEC credits outside engineering firms on several series: the H series was designed with Ricardo (SDEC), the E series with AVL (SDEC), the D series with AVL and upgraded in 2005 with Southwest Research Institute (SDEC), and the Z series with AVL and Ricardo (SDEC).
Emissions
Each specification table gives a China non-road stage: Stage II for the SC25G, SC27G, SC13G, SC15G and SC33W; Stage III for the K and VK series; Stages II to IV across the H series variants; Stage IV for the Z series. For a set going to a market with its own engine rules, ask for the certificate that covers the exact engine.
Authorised makers and counterfeit engines
SNAT publishes a yearly list of the genset makers and dealers it authorises for its genset engines, under “授权查询” (authorisation lookup); the 2025 list was posted on 18 April 2025, and no 2026 list had been posted by 3 November 2026 (SNAT). Its 2022 brand-protection notice says it has acted against counterfeit SDEC-brand complete engines and parts since 2015, with criminal convictions by 2020, and asks that a report on a suspect engine give its nameplate and the numbers of its main components, such as the turbocharger and fuel pump (SNAT notice). We found no genset-engine warranty, nameplate layout or online serial check published by SNAT.
- The assembler’s legal name on SNAT’s newest list, and the same assembler named in your contract.
- Photos of the engine’s nameplate on the unit for your order, with the model and serial number readable.
- Photos of the turbocharger and fuel-pump plates: the numbers SNAT asks for in a counterfeit report.
- Rated and standby power from the model page, not the series overview.
- The engine warranty, who holds it and who handles a claim, in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Are SDEC, Shangchai and SNAT the same company?
Yes. Shanghai Diesel Engine Co., Ltd. (SDEC, 上柴, “Shangchai”), founded in 1947, is now Shanghai New Power Automotive Technology Co., Ltd. (SNAT), and its engines are sold under the 上柴动力 brand. Its official site is snat.com and its export site sdeciepower.com; the old sdec.com.cn domain no longer resolves.
Are there counterfeit SDEC engines?
SNAT says so. Its 2022 brand-protection notice says it has acted against counterfeit SDEC-brand complete engines and parts since 2015, with criminal convictions by 2020, and asks that reports of a suspect complete engine give the engine nameplate and the numbers of its main components, such as the turbocharger and fuel pump. Its reporting line is +86 21 6065 3315.
Did Ricardo design SDEC engines?
SDEC credits Ricardo as co-designer of its H series and, with AVL, of its Z series; its E and D series were designed with AVL, and the D series was upgraded with Southwest Research Institute in 2005. That is a design credit on SDEC’s own engines; it is unrelated to the Weifang engines sold as “Ricardo”.
Which genset makers are authorised to use SDEC engines?
SNAT publishes a list each year of the genset makers and dealers it authorises for its genset engines, under “授权查询” (authorisation lookup) on its service pages; the 2025 list was posted on 18 April 2025, and no 2026 list had been posted by 3 November 2026. Check that the assembler’s legal name is on the newest list, and name the same assembler in your contract.
SDEC-engined sets
Sinospect quotes generating sets with the engine series on the quotation and the maker and plant in the order contract, and on sets bought directly witnesses the factory test: see generator FAT witnessing. The other engine families are on the engine makers page, and the buyer’s guide covers ratings, offers and the load test.
Looking at an SDEC-engined set from China?
Send the offer you have. A review checks the assembler against SNAT’s list and the engine named against the maker’s data; the dataplate is checked when the unit is inspected. We reply with the review’s scope and any fee before paid work begins. To buy a set from us instead, see the generating-set offer.