King Long launches models for the European market

The Chinese bus producer King Long is displaying two new models for the European market on his stand at Busworld. The XMQ6120AGD is a three-door city bus with a low floor and the XMQ6129Y is a high-deck coach based on the XMQ6127. King Long regards itself as one of the biggest bus and coach producers in China. They are definitely one of the biggest exporters. The company has been active on the European market since 2005 and has a European type approval for no less than eight models.

Rumour has it that King Long is even planning on starting up an assembly factory in Hungary. However, this has been denied by Samuel Zhu, vice- present sales and marketing of King Long. The company will keep on providing the European market with buses and cars that are produced in China. It thereby keeps a close track of the wishesof the various European carriers, in order to be able to deliver customized vehicles.

With the introduction of the XMQ6120AGD city bus and the XMQ6129Y coach King Long is the first Chinese bus constructor that is delivering customized vehicles to the European market. The XMQ6129Y is an upgraded version of the XMQ6127 coach. The adjustments that were made are   especially oriented towards the improvement of the performance, the efficiency and the sustainability. Furthermore, King Long is rather  successful in the European market. They say that they sold 131 buses   and coaches in 2009 there, 235 in 2010 and already more than 500 in   2011.  Of those +500, 377, about 75%,  were sold between January and September, which fills Samuel Zhu with confidence that the last quarter of 2011 will be successful as well. As a bonus he revealed that the next market that King Long wants to conquer is the American market. It is clear: becoming a global player is King Long’s ambition.