Four Features for China Large and Medium Bus Market in Jan.-Jun.2011 (Ⅱ)

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Main Reasons:
Firstly, the brand influence of Yutong, King Long, Higer and Golden Dragon is great and four builders have complete sales and marketing network, advantageous in tourist coaches and commuting buses.

Secondly, four builders have more investment on the research and development of new products with great profitability.

Thirdly, four builders have strong capability in after-sales service.

Fourthly, the purchasers of tourist coaches and commuting buses pay more attention to the bus brand.

Fifthly, four builders try to further open the bus market with the tourist coaches as well as commuting buses in the background of the fierce competition of highway and railway transport.

Decreasing Growth of New Energy Buses

Jan.-Jun., it has sold 2998 units new energy buses, including hybrid power, electric and fuel cell buses, accounting for more than 80% of the new energy commercial vehicles, year-on-year growth of 21.7%. In January and April, the sales volume exceeds 700 units while no more than 500 units in other months in the first half of this year. Especially, the growth rate of large buses comes to 27.6% (2001 units).

Main Reasons:
Firstly, national preferential policies promote the development of new energy vehicles, in particular, large buses due the price difference from conventional buses. Secondly, bigger profit for large buses than other types of buses. Thirdly, the comparative value of new energy buses is higher in terms of the tightening monetary policy. Fourthly, the promotion activities of new energy buses decrease. Fifthly, local protectionism exists in some cities. Sixthly, the subsidies of cars are more attractive than buses in some regions.

Obvious Trend of Intellectualization

According to the market research, many bus builders have applied the intelligence operation systems on the large buses with ten meters above, such as Higer Bus, Yutong Bus, King Long Bus, Dongfeng Yangtze Bus and Howo Bus. Also, the unit price is rising.

Meanwhile, the mainstream marketing mode is transferring.
Firstly, the transformation from “overall growth” to structural growth appears in bus industry. Although big falling growth of Yutong, King Long, Higer and Golden Dragon in Jan.-Jun., the sales of large buses with ten meter above show positive.

Secondly, price competition is not the effective way any more. More attention is paid to technical level and timely service.

Thirdly, bus builders gradually adopt consulting marketing, referring to products solutions.

Fourthly, product brand is playing more important role during the purchasing.