Golden Dragon Changes for Your Needs

"Yesterday morning came a customer asking for joint development of two new products and we spent two hours together; then I went to the Technology Center to discuss about some special requirements in a European order..." Senior Engineer of Golden Dragon Export Division Huang Lushi described his work to us calmly.

For 18 years in Golden Dragon involving workshop experience, quality management, and light bus development, Mr. Huang finally transferred from Bus Chassis Technology Division to Export Division for overseas sales technology support.

Such a resume convinces the reporter that the excellence of Mr. Huang is far beyond it seems as his gentle smile and his simple but humorous words reflect the wisdom and rich experience.

Generalist of the Export Division

Golden Dragon has been engaged in export for ten years, painful and fruitful. Mr. Huang is one of Export Division"s first batch of employees, who full of happiness and pride contribute to the growth of Golden Dragon.

"We are product engineers, as well as marketing engineering and our work is involved in the whole marketing chain, including overseas market survey, customer analysis, coordination with dealers, bidding management, signing orders, production, sales and after-sales service, etc."

We can sense the importance of the work, which ones without rich experience and skills are incapable of.

"In August 2003, when the first batch of buses were to export to UAE, I was dispatched to offer technology support for one month. The buses included HiAce, Coaster and 8m ones for local commuting and schools.."

"After arrival, we mainly focused on storage of spare parts and adaptability of buses. We didn"t have much export experience, especially in adaptability to overseas climate and complicated road condition. Local dealer played the key role and I was responsible for guidance and assistance." 

Product Control Relies on Accumulation

Ten years ago, China"s self-owned buses started to sparkle and the production ranked 22.6%, making China world"s bus center. Under such background, Golden Dragon began its internationalization, however the company was lack of the controlling in market requirements and product adaptability and reliability.

"In early times, the satisfactory export profits of China buses attracted floods of manufacturers. Yet, things chang thanks to economic crisis, depreciation of US dollar and intensifying competitions, etc. Golden Dragon becomes more cautious about the products for further development in overseas market. 1. Configuration and performance of the products; 2. After-sales service; 3. Reliability of the products."

Speaking of the early time, Mr. Huang said: "We used to export whatever we had and these products were full of problems. For example, we exported over 100 city buses to Russia and had to compensate the customer for frost cracking spare parts. However, this is a process of accumulation, including system and experience."

Adaptation to the Market

Despite the development of China bus export, overseas markets still remain many areas to be explored, which become the key emphasis in work for Golden Dragon.

"We visited many countries and regions these two years, especially the areas we never exported to and there occurred many difficulties. For instance, Fiji, like China in the 1980s, is filled with Japanese vehicles which are retreaded even scrapped. Singapore has demanding requirements to city buses and the service life must reach 17 years. Every place has its rules and it"ll cost us much to adapt to them."

"As the expansion of overseas markets, we are aware of our problems and change our R&D strategy. Our buses have been well received in dozens of countries and regions. The reliability and adaptability of our buses reflect the progress of Golden Dragon, even China buses."

Wining a new customer is much harder than keeping an old one, undoubtedly, however this is the only way for Golden Dragon.