On June 12, 2025, it was reported that 121 King Long new energy buses officially rolled off the production line in Xiamen and are set to be shipped to Copiapó, Chile. This not only marks that Chile is about to become the first city in Latin America to have a 100% electric bus system, but also highlights the effectiveness of King Long's strategic layout in the Latin American market over the past decade.

Copiapó is located in northern Chile and is known for its steep terrain and complex road conditions. The buses in this batch are King Long M8 Metrobus electric models, which are equipped with high-power drive motors to easily handle the terrain challenges of the Andes Mountains. Additionally, the vehicles come standard with wheelchair ramps and securing devices to enhance the travel experience for people with disabilities.

King Long's connection with the Latin American market dates back 18 years. In 2007, King Long entered the Chilean market and quickly established a reputation among local public transport operators for its durability and ease of maintenance. As of 2025, the number of King Long buses in operation in Chile has exceeded 1,500 units, making them an important part of the local public transportation system.

After firmly establishing itself in the Chilean market, King Long gradually expanded its presence in Latin America through technology exports. To date, King Long buses have been put into operation in several Latin American countries, including Chile, Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.

The Globalization Logic Behind the Leading Export Growth

From January to May 2025, Xiamen King Long's total export sales reached 4,573 units, a year-on-year increase of 59.06%, maintaining its position as the top-selling Chinese bus exporter. To date, King Long has exported nearly 140,000 large, medium, and light-duty buses to 150 countries and regions worldwide.

From the all-electric bus project in Copiapó, Chile, to the new energy footprint that spans Latin America, King Long is using technology as its brush and service as its ink to write the influence of Chinese manufacturing in the global market. As Latin American countries advance their carbon neutrality goals, King Long is continuously consolidating its leading position in the Latin American new energy bus market through a dual-driven approach of "product localization + ecosystem localization," contributing the "King Long solution" to the global green transportation transition.

Source : www.chinabuses.org

Editor : Olivia

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