King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd. (Chinese: 厦门金龙联合汽车工业有限公司), commonly known as King Long (金龙), is a Chinese bus manufacturer headquartered in Xiamen, Fujian Province. Established in December 1988, King Long specializes in the development, manufacturing, and sales of buses, coaches, and light vans.
| Website | www.king-long.com |
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King Long operates under the King Long Group (厦门金龙汽车集团), which owns:
- King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd.
- Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus Co., Ltd.
- Higer Bus Co., Ltd.
History
Founding and Early Development
- 1988: King Long was founded as one of China’s first joint ventures in the bus industry.
- The company was jointly established by:
- Xiamen Automotive Industry Corporation (50%)
- Xiamen State-owned Assets Investment Co., Ltd. (25%)
- San Yang Industry Co., Ltd. (Taiwan) (25%)
- First Model: King Long XMQ6700, inspired by the Padane MX.
Expansion and Export Growth
- 2004: King Long launched its relocation and technology upgrade project in Xiamen’s Guannan Industrial Park.
- 2005: Opened a new plant in Xiamen, designed to produce 6,000 coaches and buses annually.
- 2008: King Long held an 18% share of China’s export market, with 25% of total sales from overseas markets.
International Collaborations
Australia
- July 2023: Partnered with Bus Stop Sales (Australia) and Volgren to create the King Long EVolution Complete (a low-floor battery electric bus).
United Kingdom & Europe
- January 2025: Entered a partnership with Wrightbus (UK) under the Rightech sub-brand, launching:
- Rightech RB6 – 6-meter (20 ft) electric bus
- Rightech RB9 – 9-meter (30 ft) electric bus
Manufacturing Facilities
- Headquarters: Xiamen, Fujian Province, China.
- Factory Size: 200,000 square meters.
- Workforce: Over 1,800 employees, including 400 engineers and 30 postgraduate researchers.
- Annual Capacity: Capable of producing 13,000 large and medium-sized buses per year.
Business Operations
Global Market Presence
King Long exports to over 30 countries, including:
🇦🇺 Australia | 🇨🇱 Chile | 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 🇵🇭 Philippines | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 🇮🇱 Israel | 🇮🇶 Iraq | 🇲🇹 Malta | 🇺🇸 United States | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 🇮🇹 Italy | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 🇵🇰 Pakistan
Technology Partnerships
King Long has long-term collaborations with leading global automotive suppliers:
✔ MAN (Germany) – Engine technology
✔ ZF Friedrichshafen (Germany) – Transmission systems
✔ Cummins (USA) – Diesel and electric engines
✔ Scania (Sweden) – Bus chassis and drivetrain components
✔ Nissan & Hino (Japan) – Engineering and design input
Products
Pickups
- King Long Venus 3 / Dracon
Vans
- King Long Jinwei
- King Long Kaige
- King Long Kairui
- King Long Jockey (Saima) – Resembles the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
- King Long Longyao Series (Longyao 6, Longyao 6S, Longyao 8)
- Specialty Vans:
- King Long Ambulance
- King Long Cargo Van
- King Long Postal Van
- King Long Police Van
Coaches
🚌 Tourist & Long-Distance Coaches:
- King Long XMQ6112AGBEVL3
- King Long XMQ6120P
- King Long XMQ6122 (12m coach)
- King Long XMQ6129P
- King Long XMQ6129Y (Edison Smart 12 in South Korea)
🚌 City & Intercity Coaches:
- King Long XMQ6118Y
- King Long XMQ6900Y
- King Long XMQ6960Y
Specialized Buses
School Buses
- King Long XMQ6100ASN
- King Long XMQ6660XC
- King Long XMQ6900BSD
Transit Buses
- King Long XMQ6105G
- King Long XMQ6127GHEV4 – Hybrid
- King Long XMQ6180GK – 18-meter articulated bus
- King Long XMQ6141G
Electric & Hybrid Buses
- King Long XMQ6106AGSHEVD62 (Plug-in Hybrid)
- King Long Apolong – Fully autonomous electric minibus
Recent Innovations
🚀 King Long Apolong
- China’s first autonomous minibus, developed in partnership with Baidu.
- Designed for smart city transportation and shuttle services.
⚡ Battery Electric Buses
- EVolution Complete (Australia) – Zero-emission electric bus for city transit.
- Rightech RB6 & RB9 (Europe) – Electric low-floor buses for UK & EU markets.
Sales Performance
📊 Export Growth:
- 2008: 18% market share of Chinese bus exports.
- 2015: Expansion into Mexico and Argentina.
- 2023: Secured contracts for European markets.
Future Strategy & Expansion
✔ Global Expansion – Increasing presence in Europe, Australia, and the U.S.
✔ Electrification & Sustainability – Focus on EV buses and hybrid technology.
✔ Autonomous Public Transport – Further development of self-driving buses like Apolong.
✔ Smart Manufacturing – AI and IoT integration for bus production.
Conclusion
King Long is one of China’s leading bus manufacturers, recognized for its technological innovation, global reach, and strong partnerships. With a diverse product lineup, expanding international footprint, and a push toward electrification and autonomous technology, King Long is positioned to remain a key player in the global bus industry. 🚍💡
