EXCLUSIVE: Chinese bus manufacturing giant King Long has a new local bus and coach distributor for the Australian market, it's been announced recently.
With outlets based at both Rocklea in Brisbane and Epping in Melbourne, Bus Stop Sales and Service has been appointed as distributor for one of the largest bus and coach builders in the world.
Bus Stop Sales and Service dealer-principal Pete White says his company’s primary focus is to deliver quality buses to its customers with exceptional after-sales support. As King Long shares Bus Stop’s same customer-centric values, the Australian company – which formerly represented rival Chinese bus manufacturer Yutong in certain areas – looks forward to showcasing a range of exciting new bus products soon, it states.
“The King Long product range is no stranger to Australian roads with a proven history spanning more than 12 years in a variety of operating environments,” said White.
Supported by his father and bus industry veteran Dick White – along with Guy Pex, Peter Simpson and Jon Barr – sales have flourished and the company has enjoyed a volume in excess of 100 bus sales during 2019, it explains.
“The decision to replace our existing brand with King Long was not an easy one; however, it was necessary to meet the company’s longer-term strategy and support its customer base,” White said.
“As a team we are very proud of our contribution to establish, develop and grow the Yutong brand in Australia.
“We thank the Yutong team for the partnership over the past six years and we are committed to working together with Yutong to ensure a smooth transition for our customers and staff.”
THE RIGHT PARTNER
Sales manager for King Long Australia Harvey Zheng was upbeat about the announcement, stating: “‘King Long’s appointment of Bus Stop Sales and Service is an exciting new direction for King Long and is part of our commitment to return to the Australian market with the right partner.”
“King Long is proud to be working with Bus Stop Sales and Service – an organisation that is equally committed to doing more every day for its customers.”
“With the commitment of additional support and resources by King Long headquarters here in China and the support of Bus Stop Sales and
Service locally, we look forward to sales success in Australia,” Zheng said.
ABOUT BUS STOP
From humble beginnings six years ago, Bus Stop Sales and Service has flourished from a site in Archerfield, Queensland, to have recently purchased a dedicated bus sales and service site in Rocklea, Brisbane, and recently acquired the King Long facility in Epping, Melbourne, to service the ‘southern states’, it says.
Bus Stop Sales and Service specialises in the sale of new and used buses and coaches throughout Australia, it explains.
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ABOUT KING LONG
Founded in 1988, King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd has grown to become one of the largest bus and coach builders in the world.
Based in Xiamen, China – and together with the other bus brands within the group – King Long operates a network of manufacturing plants, of which the main plant is (physically) the largest bus manufacturing plant in the world, it states.
King Long has the technology and capacity to produce almost any type of vehicle whilst handling large volumes at world-class quality level, it explains.
Since its establishment, King Long has achieved an annual average sales growth of 34 per cent, producing more than 250,000 buses accumulatively, it claims.
In 2013, King Long (excluding its subsidiaries) sold 32,824 buses of various types, with a sales turnover exceeding RMB 9.081 billion (AUD$1,986,440,000 approx.), including an overseas sales turnover of over RMB 2.1 billion (AUD$ 458,410,000 approx.) it explains.
Photography: courtesy Cristian Brunelli + Bus Stop Sales