The HXD3 was developed in a time when China cooperated with other nations to find the best equipment for modern electric locomotives with three-phase AC traction motors. In this case, CNR Dalian worked together with Toshiba from Japan. It is a six-axle locomotive for freight trains of up to 5,000 tonnes. Output is 7,200 kW and top speed is 120 km/h. Depending on the line, the axle load of 23 tonnes can be increased to 25 tonnes by the addition of twelve tonnes of ballast. The prototype was originally called SSJ3, but then renamed to HXD3. The initial order for 60 was increased multiple times, so that ultimately 1,040 were built by CNR at Dalian, Datong and Beijing.