Bus manufacturing
Leading light bus manufacturers
Shenyang Jinbei
Originally an FAW-owned enterprise to manufacture the Toyotas Hiace under licence, the company was taken over in 1993 by Hong Kong-based China Brilliance (see Chapter 6.1). Under the new management, sales increased dramatically from 8,700 in 1995 to a projected 70,000 in 2001. A new production line was installed in 1997 and the model has been regularly updated. Currently in negotiation with Toyota to produce a fifth generation Hiace with plans to produce the 'Gran Via' van from 2002. Market share of 19.6 per cent (Jan “Jun 2002) but sales were reduced by 3 per cent.
Nanjing Yuejin Auto Group
A long-established (1994) joint venture with Iveco to produce the TurboDaily which has lost market share and is no longer among the top four light bus makers . The Chinese partner has been criticized for its lack of investment. Fiat is thought to be focusing on bringing a passenger car to the market, and recent Iveco investments have been in the heavy bus sector. Restriction on diesel -engine vehicles in Beijing have also impeded sales. Sales fell 22 per cent year-on-year in Jan-Jun 2002.
Anhui Jianghui Auto Co.
Originally a truck and chassis manufacturer, LJAC have successfully diversified into small buses in partnership with Hyundai, and produced 27,000 vehicles in 2000. Recently they acquired ownership of Anhui Ankai, a leading manufacturer in the large bus sector. Sales increased by 24 per cent year-on-year giving market share of 10.9 per cent (Jan-Jun 2002).
Fujian Southeast
A comparative newcomer, producing the Delica in partnership with Mitsubishi and Taiwanese investors. In 2000, sold 18,000 vehicles, a threefold increase year- on-year. Market share still rising to 11.5 per cent (Jan- Jun 2002) with sales increasing a further 38 per cent.
Zhejiang Haoqing Auto Manufacturing Co Ltd
A major manufacturer of buses located in south-west China with a low profile but registering a market share of 8.3 per cent (Jan-Jun 2002) in fourth place among the major light bus producers . In this period, sales rose by a more than healthy 69 per cent.
Beijing Automotive Industry Group Co (BAIC)
Manufacturers of the Hongye light bus. Based on Isuzu technology, the model still sells well in Beijing, but elsewhere is perceived as being out of date and in decline, with sales falling 17 per cent year-on-year (Jan “ Jun 2002).
BAIC Beiqi Futian
Originally an agricultural vehicle builder under MAIC, Beiqi Futian have made rapid inroads into the light bus market with a derivative of Hiace. Sales in 2001 of 12,000 vehicles.
Jiangling Motors, Nanchang
Joint venture with Ford since 1997 to produce the Transit, which has failed to win a major share of the market after good initial sales, hampered by its late arrival and comparatively high price. Nevertheless, sales rose by 14 per cent in the first six months of 2002.
Sanjiang Aerospace Co
Established a joint venture with Renault in 1993 to produce the Trafic at Xiaogan, Hubei Province. Perceived as an expensive although high quality product, it suffers from poor local marketing. There are reports that Renault have bought out the Chinese partner.
Qingling Motor Group
Based in Chongqing, and manufacturer of the QL6470 light bus, based on Isuzu technology (Isuzu holds a minority 10 per cent stake only). Perceived as a technically good product, but poorly marketed.
In addition to these leading light bus manufacturers, each of the 'Big Four' vehicle manufacturers produces light buses in low volume, as follows :
| First Auto Works (FAW) | Jiefang Light Bus |
| Shanghai Auto Industry Co | Feiling Light Bus |
| Tianjin Auto Industry Co | TJ 6480 |
| Dong Feng Motors (in partnership with Hyundai and a Taiwanese investor) | Grand Motor |
Of these, the Dong Feng bus manufacturing operation registered the best performance in the first six months of 2002, achieving fifth place in the market with sales up 86 per cent.
There are also many small local producers such as Hebei Shengli Group (SL6400 model), Hebei Tianye (BQ6471 model) and some companies, listed as light bus manufacturers but whose products do not truly fall into the category such as Changfeng Group (whose principal vehicle is the Pajero Jeep).
Leading large/medium bus manufacturers
In the medium bus sector, the FAW Group maintained its market leadership. Although sales fell by 14.6 per cent, it held a market share of 26.2 per cent (Jan-Jun 2002). Dong Feng Auto (DFAC) retained second place with 22.8 per cent market share for the same period and its sales were only marginally (2.5 per cent) lower.
Jinlong Allied Auto (Souzhou) accounted for a further 12.7 per cent and Jiangsu Yaxing Motor Coach Group was in fourth place with a market share of 9.8 per cent and static sales (Jan-Jun 2002).
The clear market leaders in the large bus sector are Changzhou Changjiang Bus Group with a market share of 26.6 per cent and DFAC with 23.8 per cent. However, while the former's sales increased by 141 per cent (Jan-Jun 2002), DFMC's sales fell by 28 per cent over the same period. In third and fourth position of the large bus market are Ankai Auto group and Huanghai Auto Group with shares of 8.7 per cent and 8 per cent respectively.
Other leading domestic producers of large and medium buses are profiled in Table 6.3.2.
| Name | Location | Output (2000) | Production capacity | Foreign partner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yutong Bus Co | Zhengzhou | 4,170 | 6,000 | JV talks with MAN |
| Hunahghai Auto Group | Dandong | 3,026 | 8,000 | Talks with Renault |
| Zhongtong Bus Co | Liaocheng | 4,000 | BOVA Bus | |
| Ankai Bus Group | Hefei | 1,519 | 4,000 | Kaisibor Bus |
| Shenwo Bus Co | Shanghai | 957 | 3,000 | Volvo |
| Shenyang Riye Auto Producing Co | Shenyang | 1,787 | 5,000 | HINO Motors |
| Chanjiang Bus | Changzou | 5,288 | 6,000 | Iveco |
| Xiamen King Long United Auto Ind. Co | Xiamen | 6,339 | 7,700 | Daimler Benz |
| Source: Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) | ||||
| In units |
| Type | Manufacturer | June | Production | Sales | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accumulated | Change, % | June | Accumulated | Change % | |||
| Heavy Truck | FAW Group Corp. | 11,884 | 72,202 | 76.84 | 10,665 | 68,994 | 91.93 |
| Dongfeng Motor Corp. | 8,444 | 48,119 | 137.00 | 7,347 | 47,395 | 137.12 | |
| China National Heavy Duty Truck Group Co. Ltd | 1,459 | 7,418 | 151.80 | 1,331 | 7,442 | 162.41 | |
| Chongqing Heavy Duty Auto (Group) Co., Ltd. | 1,288 | 6,300 | 98.30 | 1,206 6,306 | 101.41 | ||
| Shannxi Auto (Group) Co., Ltd. | 556 | 3,741 | 93.03 | 567 | 3,586 | 90.94 | |
| Beijing Auto Industry Holding Co., Ltd. | 169 | 716 | “ | 182 | 700 | “ | |
| Shanxi Auto Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. | 24 | 402 | 0.25 56 | 415 | 22.78 | ||
| North-Benz Heavy Duty Auto Co., Ltd. | 28 | 379 | 18.07 | 65 342 | 9.97 | ||
| Medium Truck | Dongfeng Motor Corp. | 5,883 | 46,164 | 21.28 | 6,157 | 44,387 | 19.36 |
| FAW Group Corp. | 5,883 | 46,164 | 21.28 | 6,157 | 44,387 | 19.36 | |
| FAW Group Corp. | 3,702 | 32,901 | “28.73 | 3,538 | 33,207 | “28.19 | |
| Shaanxi Auto (Group) Co., Ltd. | 438 | 5,211 | 66.91 | 451 | 5,132 | 65.92 | |
| Nanjing Chunlan Auto Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | 1,000 | 5,190 | 994.94 | 900 | 4,886 | 897.14 | |
| Chengdu Wangpai Vehicle Holding Co., Ltd. | 451 | 2,682 | 3,294.94 | 550 | 2,367 | 4,283.33 | |
| Light Truck | Beijing Auto Industry Holding., Ltd. | 11,959 | 72,168 | 41.34 | 13,505 | 71,710 | 35.00 |
| Dongfeng Motor Corp. | 5,490 | 37,154 | 29.76 | 5,394 | 34,911 | 26.69 | |
| Nanjing Auto (Group) Co., Ltd. | 2,766 | 21,135 | 30.88 | 3,122 | 20,472 | 25.12 | |
| Jiangling Motors Group Corp. | 4,418 | 20,969 | 33.70 | 3,341 | 21,196 | 32.99 | |
| Anhui Jianghuai Auto (Group) Co., Ltd. | 2,297 | 18,109 | 47.01 | 2,508 | 16,417 | 43.25 | |
| FAW-Hongta Yunnan Automobile Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | 3,094 | 15,370 | 23.76 | 3,005 | 14,200 | 38.92 | |
| Qingling Motor (Group) Co., Ltd. | 2,721 | 11,783 | 5.71 | 3,056 | 13,426 | 28.01 | |
| FAW Group Corp. | 2,751 | 10,401 | 13.04 | 2,002 | 8,411 | 5.01 | |
| Sichuan Highway Machinery Works | 945 | 9,120 | 17.12 | 1,136 | 8,743 | 11.22 | |
| China National Bus & Coach Co., Ltd. | 1,283 | 8,442 | 4.73 | 1,550 | 7,880 | 22.74 | |
| Hebei Zhongxing Auto Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | 1,206 | 4,773 | 21.64 | 775 | 4,831 | 29.41 | |
| Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile Co., Ltd. | 957 | 4,481 | 25.62 | 925 | 4,542 | 25.40 | |
| Jinbei Auto Holding Co., Ltd. | 1,165 | 4,183 | “20.51 | 760 | 4,438 | “29.60 | |
| Mini Truck | Liuzhou Wuling Automotive Co., Ltd. | 2,411 | 36,124 | 19.20 | 3,250 | 35,867 | 17.09 |
| Chana Automobile (Group) Liability Co., Ltd. | 284 | 21,070 | “0.51 | 2,492 | 18,186 | “11.61 | |
| Changhe Aircraft Industries (Group) Co., Ltd | 2,897 | 16,305 | 124.06 | 2,514 | 14,816 | 77.18 | |
| Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation | 1,231 | 11,416 | 128.46 | 1,592 | 8,975 | 50.23 | |
| Nanjing Channa Auto Co., Ltd. | 1,301 | 7,598 | 80.56 | 1,186 | 5,774 | 20.44 | |
The last of the producers featured in Table 6.3.2, Xiamen King Long, is one of the most progressive companies in the sector. Originally using technology from Daimler Benz, they now have technical cooperation with MAN, Hino, Mitsubishi, Cummins and Alexander. They claim production of more than 40 models at three different sites, with export sales to south-east Asia, Middle East, Latin America and the USA. However, the company does not appear in official Chinese statistics because it is classified as a vehicle assembler rather than a manufacturer.
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