On January 5, 2020 Xiamen International Marathon officially kicked off at Xiamen Exhibition Center. Over 30,000 professional and amateur runners from 41 countries and regions participated in the event. Since 2003, King Long has been serving participants and volunteers at Xiamen International Marathon. This year, King Long intelligent buses & coaches were put into service. King Long intelligent bus equipped with the latest 5G technologies, is specifically targeted at the urban public transportation sector. In fact, King Long put its intelligent buses on trial operation on the BRT routes in Xiamen in September 2018 by cooperating with Datang Telecommunications. In May, 2019, Xiamen officially launched its 5G-supported public transport services. At the end of 2019, King Long intelligent buses, supported by 5G technologies, also started working in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province.

According to the latest statistics, Higer sold 11,326 units buses & coaches in 2019, up by 0.41% year on year. Its sales revenue went up by 18.38% year on year reaching 7.33 billion RMB. It is also revealed that the company sold 700 units Higer Scania luxury coaches, up by 40% year on year. “In 2020, we aim to further increase the sales of our luxury coaches,” said Zheng Chunhui, General Manager of Luxury Coach Branch of Higer. After cooperating with Scania for over a decade, Higer Scania luxury coaches have so far made their way to over 50 countries and regions across the globe. In 2019, Higer and Scania jointly launched a new generation of city buses to tap into the urban public transport market. In August, 248 units Scania Higer luxury city buses were officially put into operation in Rabat, the capital city of Morocco, ushering a brand new era for the brand’s overseas expansion. In 2019, Higer’s overseas sales revenue reached 2.463 billion RMB, up by 24.49% year on year. The export volume in 2019 stayed almost the same as that in the previous year, showing the company has a growing presence in the high-end overseas market. Also in 2019, 174 units Higer high-end city buses were delivered to Serbia for operation. With low floor access, the new vehicle is the fifth generation of city buses specially designed for Serbian market. Also in 2019, Higer new energy buses officially entered South Korea. Each day, the vehicle runs over 20 hours. “Higer Service, Higher Service is our philosophy. In the next two to three years, we aim to build 10-15 model service stations”, said Liu Xin, vice director of Higer Overseas After-sales Service Department. In 2019, Higer’s domestic sales revenue reached 4.487 billion RMB. Higer 8.5-meter and 10.5-meter new energy city buses enjoy particularly great popularity in the market. In addition, Higer 12-meter and 13-meter travel coaches increased their market share. Higer 13-meter travel coach, for example, has 55 seats, USB portals, and advanced AC system, etc. Also in 2019, Higer won After-sales Five-Star Certificate according to China’s GB/T27922-2011 Standards.

Brussels (People's Daily) - Chinese bus maker Yutong has bagged three of the 10 honors at the 25th Busworld Awards in Brussels on October 18. Busworld 2019 is the biggest edition ever. 510 exhibitors from 39 countries gather in Brussels Expo, including 75 bus builders, which covers almost all the major bus and coach manufacturers in the world. The exhibition lasts 6 days and is expected to attract about 50,000 visitors from more than 120 countries. In the distant past, few Chinese participants could be found in the exhibition. But in the recent decades, more and more Chinese companies display their products on the platform. This year China ranks among top 3 participating countries of Busworld, with 54 companies, including Yutong, CRRC, King Long, BYD and Higer.  Ten Busworld Awards were conferred in the bus and coach category. The Yutong U12 was awarded the Bus Design label thanks to its European level design, as well as its aesthetic balance in interiors and overall external appearance. The DESIGN COACH Award went to Yutong T13. The jury liked the exteriors and interiors. The finishing and placement of the interiors, equipment and components are precise. YUTONG ICe12 won the ECOLOGY COACH Award. Yutong uses many recyclable materials for the interiors (less plastic, more metal). It is also the only electric vehicle in the coach category making it perform much better in terms of emissions than the other vehicles. According to Busworld organizer, 21 buses and coaches from manufacturers across the globe were tested and examined thoroughly for a day by a professional jury panel. Yutong and by extension all Chinese manufacturers have made significant progress and meet European standards in many areas. Yutong is the top-selling bus brand in the world. With sales of large and medium-size buses reaching 60,868 units in 2018, Yutong ranked first for nine consecutive years in the world, accounting for more than 15 per cent of global market share.

On May 5, the second Digital China Forum was held in Fuzhou. On the forum, Golden Dragon 5G ASTAR Autonomous Driving Bus in operation in Xiamen was broadcast live. A citizen surnamed Yu in Xiamen, together with other local people, made reservations for transportation services online. Soon, Golden Dragon 5G Autonomous Driving Bus arrived. After driving for about two kilometers, the vehicle carried them to their destination. “It is very convenient and very fast,” Mr. Yu said. Measuring six meters in length, ASTAR Autonomous Driving Bus achieves impressive agility, high intelligence, superb energy efficiency, and unparalleled environmental friendliness. It is an ideal choice for the “last-kilometer” transportation in urban areas. The second-generation ASTAR Autonomous Driving Bus has reached SAE L4 automatic driving, able to plan its driving routes in real-time, avoid and surpass other vehicles, and make automatic parking. Having won the first automatic driving bus permit China, it has been put into service in Pingtan, Fujian. In addition, it won 2018 World AI Autonomous Competition. On March 7 this year, ASTAR Autonomous Driving Bus successfully passed a test in Israel, making a huge splash in the global transportation market. According to Golden Dragon, the ASTAR Autonomous Driving Bus service is jointly developed by Xiamen Public Transport, China Mobile, Tsinghua University and Xiamen Information Group. The new service is set to usher in a brand new era for public transportation. Soon, the 5G mini-bus service will be provided at Software Park II Phase, meeting passengers varied needs for transportation services. “It has revolutionized the traditional public transportation services, accurately locating passengers and providing optimal driving route,” revealed Chen Jingyuan from Xiamen Public Transport.

As one of the first batch of independent bus brands to explore overseas markets and an active practitioner of the national “going global” strategy, King Long has responded positively to the call of the country, undertaken the mission of “national bus”, realized the goal of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), i.e. consultation, contribution and win-win cooperation, and built a path to happiness with countries along the Belt and Road, becoming a role model of trade cooperation under the BRI for Chinese buses and even the automotive industry. So far, about 60,000 King Long buses have been exported to major countries along the Belt and Road.

On April 10, a grand ceremony was held at the production base of Ankai to mark the delivery of 600 units Ankai buses to their customer from Saudi Arabia. For three consecutive years, Ankai successfully pocketed the biggest bus order from the overseas customers. Located in the Gulf Region, Saudi Arabia has an eight-month summer every year with the highest temperature reaching 56℃. Due the demanding working environment, it has set very stringent demands for buses and coaches. All the 600 units Ankai buses ready for shipping this year measure 12 meters in length and adopt monocoque body structures. With three doors and 3+2 seat layout, these vehicles boast higher loading capacity and provide more travel comforts and convenience for passengers. In 2017 and 2018, Ankai exported 600 units and 800 units A9 luxury coaches to its customers in Saudi Arabia, making a huge splash in the global bus market. For three consecutive years since 2017, Ankai’s total annual export volume has exceeded 2,000 units. Ankai officially entered Saudi Arabia in 2007 and established cooperative ties with Saudi Arabia Phil Transportation Corporation, the largest carrier in the country in 2011. So far, it has delivered 3,000 units school buses to the company. In addition, the number of Ankai buses in operation in Saudi Arabia is approaching 7,000 units now, making Ankai the biggest bus brand in the local market. Currently, Ankai city buses, school buses, travel coaches can be easily spotted in Saudi Arabia. With its formidable presence and its constantly expanding after-sales service networks, Ankai is set to further strengthen its competitiveness in the global market. Fully committed to internationalizing its brand, Ankai has already obtained ADR certificate from Australia, GCC certificate from the Gulf Region, DOT certificate from the USA, e/E-mark certificate from the EU, GOST certificate from Russia. Moreover, Ankai has established a well-connected sales network across the globe and exported its buses and coaches to nearly 100 countries and regions.