Gasgoo.com (Shanghai December 31) - King Long's total exports this year look to total nearly 9,000 units, Autoweekly reported today. The figure, which represents a new high for the Fujian coach manufacturer, was reported following an export of 300 King Long BRT buses to Tehran, Iran earlier this month. The export order is the most expensive for a Xiamen-based manufacturer to date.
The 18 m BRT XMQ6180G buses (pictured) exported to Iran are the product of independent R&D work by King Long. The buses' various components come almost entirely from Germany, with the engine made by Man and transmission by Voith. In accordance with Iranian public transport requirements, the buses contain special equipment for the convenience of handicapped passengers, including safety restraints and wheelchair loading equipment. At the export ceremony for the buses, Tehran Deputy Mayor Hossein Mohammadpour Zarandi praised their quality, adding that the country hopes to continue purchasing new vehicles from King Long in the future.
According to Xie Weiguo, head of King Long's overseas operations, the manufacturer's exports picked up significantly in the latter half of the year, with orders coming in from Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Peru, Russia and Egypt. The manufacturer's cumulative exports for the year look to be just under 9,000 units, representing year-on-year growth of 20 percent. Their total export volume is anticipated to be 2.1 billion yuan ($333.27m), marking a new record for the manufacturer.
Since its entry on the global stage in 2000, King Long has expanded its overseas operations to include 86 countries and regions across the world. The manufacturer possesses over 50 sales dealerships and customer service outlets overseas, making it China's largest bus exporter.
