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In October 2015, King Long, a leader in Chinese bus industry, attended Busworld Kortrijk Europe for the sixth time. During the auto show, King Long focused on the promotion of three premium models: C9, B10 and E12 conforming to Euro 6 emission standards in the theme of Solution Plus, demonstrating the highest bus manufacturing and R&D level in China and its resolution to increase its presence in European market.
King Long Press Conference at Busworld Kortrijk 2015
During the auto show where the latest achievements in new energy technologies was presented, King Long also announced the conclusion of the strategic cooperation agreements with top suppliers such as Commins, Microvast and Jingjin Electric, showing its commitment to new energy bus solutions and development in synergism and collaboration with their partners.
As a Chinese bus manufacturer which has a long history of participation in Busworld Kortrijk Europe, King Long has built a typical Chinese brand in EU market since its debut in the auto show in 2005. Entering the European market rapidly through the gateway of BusworldKortrijk Europe, King Long has achieved continuous improvements in manufacturing process, quality control, and brand building. Certified with the stringent local standards, King Long has been competing with other European enterprises in this birthplace of modern automobile industry. Meanwhile, King Long has set an example of globalization for other domestic manufacturers. With the closing gap between leading countries, China has become a new powerful player in this industry.
King Long Press Conference at Busworld Kortrijk 2015
Lian Xiaoqiang, President of King Long, Giving Speech at Busworld Kortrijk 2015
King Long Press Conference at Busworld Kortrijk 2015
Appearing the Sixth Time at the Show, Showcasing the Most Achievements Ever Made
Looking back the overseas expansion of Chinese bus manufacturers, King Long comes first as it filled in a decades-long gap where no Chinese bus enterprises obtained a European certificate. The overwhelming access to the European market, since 2005, marks King Long’s status as a provider of systematic solutions for international bus operators. “It’s our sixth presence in Busworld. The number of six means good fortune in China. Through this exhibition, we hope to show the determination of Chinese bus manufacturers, especially new energy bus manufacturers, to influence global industrial landscape,” said Xie Weiguo, King Long’s Overseas Sales Director.
The theme, Solution Plus, means more solutions for customers. So far, King Long has developed into an international solution provider for passenger transport systems, achieving the upgrading from a traditional bus manufacturing enterprise. In details, Solution Plus includes four aspects: product, service, safety and energy conservation.
Product Plus: to make full response to market demands, provide flexible customization, make on-demand changes, and satisfy customers’ needs perfectly. King Long has accumulated a strong track record since entering the European market in 2005. The compliance of almost 20 product series with European standards has been officially proved. In fields like tourist transportation, public transit and intercity passenger traffic, over 2,500 vehicles made by King Long are serving more than a dozen European countries. The company has entered into successful cooperation relationship with local large-scale passenger transport companies. Despite of the global economic depression in 2014, King Long exported 12,780 buses with a sales volume of USD 301.7 million.
Distributor of King Long Buses in Spain
Service Plus: to provide active pre-sales, in-sales and after-sales services, ensure the promptness and continuity of services, and present customers with positive solutions. In addition to tangible products, King Long is also engaged in guaranteeing comprehensive service accessibility for all users wherever they are, which plays an important role in continuous overseas expansion. At present, King Long’s marketing footprints have covered the world with more than 50 worldwide authorized dealers and service agencies. In Europe, King Long has stretched its network into more than a dozen countries with two part centers available.
Safety Plus: to make vehicles safer and more intelligent by using active safety technologies such as automatic speed limit, forward collision avoidance, lane departure warning, and panoramic viewing. The future buses, in the eyes of King Long, will be highly integrated with those technologies. In recent years, King Long has been increasing efforts on R&D in areas like the internet of vehicles and automobile electronics, with a series of proprietary achievements highlighting the latest industrial trend in China. Driven by technologies, King Long’s technical progress creates more value for customers.
Eco Plus: to ensure product conformity with the newest emission standard, besides Euro 6, plug-in hybrid and pure electric versions also available. The newly-issued tourist bus C9 and passenger bus B10 both meet Euro 6 standards, while E12 is the first real plug-in hybrid type in China. As the greatest producer and consumer of new energy vehicles in the world, China has seen a remarkable popularity in this field. In terms of commercial vehicles, progressive King Long has developed own ISG hybrid power system, a benchmark in Chinese industry of new energy buses.
King Long Buses at Busworld Kortrijk 2015
A ProductMade in China, A Brand Recognized Worldwide
As China’s first bus enterprise entering the global market, King Long began its overseas expansion as early as in 2000. So far, the compound annual growth rate of export has hit over 50%. King Long has over 60 global brand agents with products sold in over 100 countries and regions across Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania and South America. Especially, the company has set foot in 12 EU countries, including UK, Italy, France, and Malta.
As we know, European strict standards and regulations have deterred many enterprises from entering this birthplace of modern automobile culture. In 2003 when most Chinese counterparts had no clear ideas about international marketing, King Long got its first European order of 82 XMQ6113 buses from Malta, a pioneering milestone event in the history of Chinese bus export to Europe.
In 2005, King Long became the first Chinese vehicle manufacturer to fully pass VCA certification, opening the door to the EU market. In 2010, King Long was honored as BAAV Annual Best Bus Manufacturer. Now, King Long products are commonly seen in the whole continent of Europe. In Malta, King Long accounts for up to 70% of public buses. In Italy, batches of sightseeing buses made by King Long are exported here every year with a leading market share. In UK, more than 100 King Long buses served the London Olympics, of which 10 “Euro Star” buses were chartered by Samsung, the Worldwide Olympic Partner of this grand event.
Following the comprehensive progressing of “Made in China 2025” strategy, King Long focuses on not only domestic new energy market but also the countries along “One Belt, One Road”. In June 2015, a total of 1,060 school buses were delivered from King Long to Saudi Arabia, which has set a new record of King Long’s and even Fujian Province’s single export contract, and by far is the largest export order of this year in Chinese coach industry. In the same month, King Long also exported another 204 units of 12-meter-long luxury buses to Thailand, which is the largest tourism order of this year between China and Thailand. In the first half of 2015, King Long exported 6,539 buses with a sales volume of USD 161 million, vividly demonstrating the muscle of Chinese coach industry to the world.
In fact, King Long has been committed to “Made in China” branding since its founding. For more than twenty years, King Long has always treated quality as a matter of life or death, which greatly contributes to its success in global markets. Meanwhile, by incorporating and applying new technologies to the products, King Long has become a pioneer and advocate of “intelligent manufacturing in China”.
In recent years, cathode electrophoresis workshop, high-end assembly line and other infrastructures were put into operation in succession, resulting in improvement of the corrosion prevention, durability and security of finished automobiles. King Long Vehicle Test Center, with an investment of RMB 150 million, is a state-of-the-art center for the R&D and testing of finished automobiles. With experimental demonstration in the R&D phase and road test, structure test and dynamic test available in the Center, King Long has completed comprehensive and multi-stage abilities in product verification and tackling key technical difficulties.
King Long is an example of adding product value for many Chinese vehicle exporters. To better meet the needs of EU clients, King Long is making adjustments in technology, purchase, production and other relevant steps. Up to now, King Long has obtained the certification of many countries and regions including EU, US, GCC, Australia, and Russia. King Long always makes immediate responses to the upgrading of international regulations, showing its efficiency and strengths in following the accepted international practices.
A Low-carbon Proponent, A Green King Long Builder
As global energy crisis and warming become intensified, low-carbon revolution in automobile industry has be treated as a key issue on the agenda.
As the government continues issuing supportive policies, China has become the largest producer and consumer of new energy vehicles in the world.
In the area of passenger car manufacturing, Chinese enterprises, with King Long as a leader, have reached international level after years-long devotion in the R&D of new energy and product and technology innovation.
As early as in 2001, King Long started the R&D of hybrid buses. With its 27-year experience in vehicle manufacturing and 14-year experience in new energy technologies, King Long is absorbed in scientific research and developing real eco-friendly new energy vehicles.
In May 2015, King Long launched a complete series of green vehicles in China, covering pure electric cars and plug-in hybrid cars with length varying from 6m to 12m. Those vehicles are of different energy modes such as plug-in charging, power switching, and hybrid type, for different functions, such as urban logistics, leasing and commuting, all satisfying the needs for green transport.
Moreover, King Long initiativelyreleased proprietary ISG plug-in hybrid buses and Eco-chip new energy management system. By realizing the full control of engine operation, charging mode, smart mode switch, vehicle driving, and security assurance, King Long has established a 5-Dual value system to boost vehicle management convenience, intelligence and efficiency.
During this auto show, King Long not only brought own new products, but also demonstrated its Eco-chip plug-in hybrid system, the first time for Chinese bus enterprises to show proprietary integration strategies of new energy vehicles, representing the highest Chinese industrial level.
“E12 is a highlight among Chinese products at the show. It is a plug-in hybrid bus for urban public usage,” said Xu Yifan, one King Long’s new energy engineers, “Per-charge electric range is more than 50km. In central urban area, pure electric mode can be used to reduce emissions. Hybrid power mode can save over 40% fuel compared to traditional vehicles. Energy conservation, environmental protection and operation stability are all achieved. In order to meet therigid European requirements on vehicles, King Long has made bold attempts in new energy vehicles, which I think will lay a solid foundation for its future development in Europe.”
E12 advantages: multi-component lithium battery maintaining strong power and reducing fuel dependence; ISG and TM dual-motor drive enabling zero fuel consumption start; 0-50km/h acceleration time within 18s, maximum gradeability up to 20%; high-voltage components mounted overhead to reduce battery damage in rear-end collision and improve operability in water circumstances; Eco-chip new energy management system identifying driving intention and exerting optimum control strategy to keep the bus in the best condition; engine, ISG motor and drive motor all under real-time regulation according to actual traffic condition, ensuring motor shaft durability; fast-charging battery’s charging time as short as 10 mins, charging cycles up to 10,000, and warranty period as long as 8 years.
King Long E12
In addition, the upgraded visions of C9 and B10 both materialize King Long’s expertise and profession in road vehicles and public buses.
King Long makes active response to European market feedback to upgrade its bestselling C9 series. The design of C9 instrument desk has been comprehensively optimized. Refrigerator now can be pushed into instrument desk, leaving more space for seats. The arrangement of instrument panel is also improved with a high accessibility of keys. The upper cover of instrument desk can be opened now with high maintenance convenience. The most important point is that C9 engine is in conformity with Euro 6 emission standard, with low-carbon and environment-friendly performance.
King Long C9
Just like C9, B10 engine also meets Euro 6 emission standard. The newly-issued eye-catching B10 series is upgraded from the outside to the inside, with artistic appearance combining east and west aesthetic taste. B10 series features low entry, flat floor and step-free design, with 33+1 seats available and high capaciousness and bearing capacity. All electric devices are arranged orderly after driver seat, providing high maintenance operability for driver at any time. With three wheelchair chutes, manual turning plate equipped on the middle door, and automatic lift, bus accessibility covers special groups considerately.
King Long B10
Those three series of new-type Euro 6 buses showcased Chinese industrial level at the show, and they will lead the low-carbon trend in Europe definitely.
Strategic Cooperation, Win-win Future
As everyone knows, three core technologies behind new energy automobiles include engine, battery and electronic control. Now, engine technologies have be proved mature after years-long development and application, while battery industry still faces bottlenecks with many battery materials still in test demonstration, posing a common challenge for the upstream parts industry of new energy industry.
From the judgment of King Long, electronic control is an urgent technology for the whole vehicle manufacturing industry. ISG and Eco-chip both marks King Long’s leading advantages in electronic control.
On this exhibition, King Long announced a number of strategic cooperation agreements with top suppliers such as Commins, Microvast and Jingjin Electric. The three companies are leaders respectively in engine, battery and motor industry.
China has become the largest market of new energy buses. Accordingly, a complete technical chain of “battery + motor + electronic control” has been shaped in the form of strengthening own advantages and cooperating with other industrial forces by King Long, the most competent player in Chinese new energy market.
Furthermore, win-win relationships have also been developed among those enterprises with collaborative R&D and customization. Based onKing Long’s14-year experience in new energy vehicle R&D and manufacturing and the unique strength of each partner in its business, the idea of “market-oriented” R&D has been created.
At the auto show, King Long’s Eco-chip plug-in hybrid system demonstration attracted intensive attention. Operating principles were clearly conveyed to the audience to provide the mysterious insight of plug-in hybrid power by displaying key components including multi-component lithium battery, generator, drive motor controller, drive motor, electronically-controlled clutch, ISG controller, ISG generator, and vehicle control unit. It is reported that this system is the first proprietary electronic system demonstrated by Chinese bus enterprises on such high-level event, marking remarkable achievements of Chinese new energy industry.
With strong policy support and fiscal subsidies, the production and consumption of new energy vehicles are booming in China. In the future, Chinese bus enterprises represented by King Long will further expand new energy market and green “Made in China” brand.
“After 14 years of development, King Long has developed a complete product line in Europe, covering fields like public transport, tourism and chartering. And European users’ diverse demands have been also satisfied. In the future, King Long will continue to push overseas marketing strategies, apply internationally advanced technologies to improving our products, strive to become a world-class provider for international passenger transport systems, build quality brand, and exert positive influence on other Chinese counterparts,” said Lian Xiaoqiang, King Long’s Chairman.