Recently, Zhongtong Bus, a subsidiary of Shandong Heavy Industry, was honored with the special “China Buses Overseas Great Achievements Award – Chile Star” in recognition of its deep engagement and outstanding performance in the Chilean market. This accolade not only affirms Zhongtong Bus’s overseas deployment capabilities but also highlights the technical adaptability and brand influence of Chinese buses in complex global operating environments. It sets a benchmark for the international expansion of China’s bus industry.

The “China Buses Overseas Great Achievements Award – Chile Star” was established to acknowledge the remarkable contributions of Chinese bus manufacturers in Chile. It focuses on products and integrated solutions that demonstrate long-term stable operation, strong technical adaptability, and significant social benefits in the local market. The award serves as a platform for industrial and technological exchange and brand co-creation between China and Chile, promoting the high-quality global expansion of Chinese buses.

Chile’s diverse terrain, with altitude variations exceeding 4,000 meters, along with harsh environmental conditions such as strong salt spray corrosion and frequent earthquakes, imposes stringent requirements on bus reliability and adaptability. Since entering the Chilean market in 2007, Zhongtong Bus has spent 18 years deepening its local presence, consistently pursuing scenario-specific innovation under the approach of “one city, one strategy.” Through customized R&D tailored to local natural conditions and operational needs, the company has successfully deployed over 1,500 pure electric buses in cities including Santiago, Valparaíso, and Antofagasta. Key innovations such as high-safety battery technology, all-aluminum anti-corrosion bodywork, and intelligent earthquake early-warning systems have enabled these vehicles to log 230 million kilometers of safe operation while reducing carbon emissions by 220,000 tons—tangible support for Chile’s transition to green transportation.

Zhongtong Bus’s new energy projects in Chile have set industry milestones and form the core basis for this award. The company has delivered more than 1,000 pure electric buses in total, including a single batch of 895 units. This shipment not only set a new record for Chinese new energy bus exports to Chile but also stands as a vivid example of “Chinese Green Intelligent Manufacturing” going global and contributing to worldwide transport emission reduction. Equipped with proprietary lithium iron phosphate batteries, the Zhongtong N-series pure electric buses offer a range of 300 kilometers. Their powertrain systems and control strategies have been optimized for Chile’s narrow roads and numerous slopes. Intelligent control locks, collision warning systems, and other user-friendly features further enhance safety and comfort, making these buses a key enabler of Chile’s bus electrification push and its “2050 Carbon Neutrality” goal.

The project’s outstanding results have earned high-level national recognition in Chile. On July 15, 2025, the delivery ceremony for the 895 Zhongtong pure electric buses was held in Santiago, attended by Chilean President Gabriel Boric, Chinese Ambassador to Chile Niu Qingbao, and Chilean Minister of Transport and Telecommunications Juan Carlos Muñoz. President Boric personally addressed the event, praising the initiative as “a concrete step by both countries to jointly tackle climate change” and “a key move in Chile’s green transport transformation”—a public endorsement of the technological strength and environmental value of Chinese new energy buses.

Beyond commercial cooperation, Zhongtong Bus has integrated a human-centered approach into its overseas strategy, evolving from “product export” to “value export.” The company sponsored and supported a training program for female bus drivers in Chile, which concluded successfully with Chilean Vice Minister of Transport Jorge Daza attending the certificate ceremony. The program helped promote local female employment and gender equality, contributing positively to social development. Moreover, with support from Liaocheng Customs and preferential policies under the China-Chile Free Trade Agreement, Zhongtong Bus achieved immediate declaration, inspection, and clearance for its vehicles, significantly reducing export costs and ensuring the project’s smooth progress.

As one of the world’s earliest developers and promoters of new energy buses, Zhongtong Bus—backed by Shandong Heavy Industry’s full industrial chain synergy, an overseas R&D team of nearly 1,000 people, and deep technical expertise—has become the Chinese bus brand with the highest market share in Chile. Its vehicles serve multiple segments including urban public transport, mining commutes, and tourist travel. The “Chile Star” award recognizes both past achievements and future potential for Zhongtong Bus.

Looking ahead, Zhongtong Bus will continue to leverage the Belt and Road Initiative, deepen its “High-end + New Energy + Globalization” strategy, and focus on technological innovation and localization for complex global scenarios. The company aims to promote more “green + humanistic” projects in Chile and across Latin America, foster integrated innovation between “Chinese Standards” and local needs, and support the global transition toward greener, smarter public transport with Chinese solutions—driving China-Chile and China-Latin America cooperation toward a new stage of higher quality and greater sustainability.

Source : www.chinabuses.org

Editor : Lucy

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