Yutong Expands Overseas Electric Bus Exports
The Chinese bus maker's new-energy models now make up a quarter of its bus exports, up from 3 per cent in 2018.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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Zhengzhou-based Yutong is expanding overseas bus shipments as demand for electric buses grows abroad. New-energy models accounted for 25 per cent of its bus exports so far this year, compared with 3 per cent in 2018.
Why it matters
Growing international demand for premium electric buses is pushing manufacturers to shift their export mix toward new-energy models. Yutong's overseas push also reflects its effort to offset weaker domestic sales.
Yutong sold 30,929 buses in the first nine months of the year, 7,895 of them electric, and holds more than 10 per cent of the global large and medium-sized bus market. Its Australian market share stands at 18.7 per cent, second only to Volvo.
The players
Yutong
Yutong is a Zhengzhou, Henan-based Chinese bus manufacturer that holds more than 10 per cent of the global large and medium-sized bus and coach market.
CATL
CATL is a Chinese battery maker that supplies battery modules used in Yutong's export electric bus models.
The details
Yutong secured a foothold in Saudi Arabia's premium bus market after the 2022 Qatar World Cup, gaining share from Mercedes-Benz and Volvo. The company sources battery modules from CATL for its export models and generates more than half of its total revenue overseas.
Timeline
2018: New-energy models made up 3 per cent of Yutong's bus exports.
2022: The Qatar World Cup preceded Yutong's entry into the Saudi premium market.
First nine months of 2026: Yutong sold 30,929 buses, including 7,895 electric.
Roadmap
The sector hit its peak in 2019 before a Covid-19 decline, and Yutong's current export growth is a partial recovery from that contraction. Overseas public transport demand is growing quickly as international buyers seek more premium electric buses.
Transit agencies and fleet operators in markets such as Australia, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Morocco are being offered a growing range of electric bus options. Buyers evaluating electric fleets may find more international supplier choices as manufacturers expand overseas.
The takeaway
Electric buses are becoming a larger share of global bus exports, and suppliers are expanding abroad to meet rising demand. Fleet buyers should watch how manufacturers follow through on planned overseas production.
Further reading
For broader context on the shift toward zero-emission fleets, explore our Electric Vehicles coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by South China Morning Post.
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