By Bob Tita 

Engine manufacturer Cummins Inc.'s is counting on new joint venture with an export-minded Chinese truck maker to boost sluggish sales in China.

Although Cummins has been among the most successful U.S. manufacturers at penetrating China's capital goods market, infrastructure spending and GDP growth is slowing. Trucking however, remains strong, as newly constructed highways fuel demand for more powerful trucks with high-mileage durability.

"We're feeling good about the truck market in China," said Chairman and Chief Executive Tom Linebarger during a conference call Tuesday with analysts. "Trucking growth rates can continue even if the build out of cities, factories and airports slows down. And that's exactly what we're seeing now."

Rising truck engine sales in China and North American in the first quarter helped offset falling engine demand in off-road equipment and power generation markets, particularly in India and Brazil. Profits rose 20% from a year ago to $338 million, or 1.83 per share-quarter share. Overall sales climbed 12% from last year to $4.4 billion.

The company said it now expects overall 2014 revenues to rise between 6% and 10% from 4% to 8%. It also boosted its full-year sales outlook in China to $3.4 billion, a 15% gain. Cummins' 2013 China revenue climbed 11.5%.

Cummins improving market outlook for China coincides with the roll out of a new joint venture with Chinese truck maker Beiqi Foton Motor Co. to supply engines for Foton's heavy-duty trucks. The Beijing-based company, third in the market for trucks weighing more than 28,000 pounds, has 15% of the Chinese market. It sold 115,400 heavy-duty trucks last year, according to Minnesota market forecaster Power Systems Research.

Cummins already supplies engines for Foton's small trucks.

Foton expects to export its high-end heavy duty trucks, which feature a popular international design with the cab over the engine. "We want to distribute this kind of truck," said Foton CEO Hu Ting, in an interview during a recent trip to Cummins' southern Indiana headquarters. India, in particular, is expected to be a strong market for the trucks.

Cummins also expects to benefit from stricter pollution regulations on diesel engine exhaust in China. Enforcement of long-delayed regulations is scheduled to begin in January 2015. After complying with increasingly tougher emissions standards in the U.S. and Europe, Cummins' believes its technology and production provide an edge over Chinese engine manufacturers.

Industry analysts predict that some machinery and truck manufacturers will opt for Cummins' engines over making the big investments to keep their own engines in compliance. "As the year goes on everybody in China will be scrambling for new engines," said Joel Tiss, an analyst with BMO Capital Markets.

Write to Bob Tita at robert.tita@wsj.com

Corrections & Amplifications

Cummins's overall revenue for the quarter climbed 12% to $4.4 billion. An earlier version incorrectly said it was $4.4 million.

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