King Long

King Long, formally Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd., is a Chinese commercial-vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Xiamen, Fujian. The company was established in December 1988 and is primarily associated with large and medium-sized buses and coaches. Its product scope also includes light vans, special-purpose vehicles, school buses, airport buses, and battery-electric and hybrid public-transport vehicles. The brand operates in one of the world's largest bus markets and has developed a broad portfolio for urban transit, intercity passenger transport, tourism, institutional fleets, and specialized applications. Its conventional product range spans vehicles of approximately six to thirteen metres, while its model families include city buses, touring coaches, midibuses, school buses, minibuses, vans, ambulances, cargo vans, police vehicles, postal vans, and fire-service vehicles. King Long also participates in the development and supply of electric and autonomous transport products, including battery-electric buses and the Apolong autonomous minibus. King Long is part of the wider King Long Motor Group, whose major operating companies include King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd., Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus Co., Ltd., and Higer Bus Co. Ltd. The company is jointly owned by Xiamen Automotive Industry Corporation, Xiamen State-owned Assets Investment Co., Ltd., and Taiwan's San Yang Industry Co., Ltd. The reported ownership proportions are 50%, 25%, and 25%, respectively. The company expanded its manufacturing base through a relocation and technology-upgrading project launched in the mid-2000s at Xiamen Automobile Industry City in Jimei District. Its facilities cover roughly 200,000 square metres and employ more than 1,800 people, including technical and engineering personnel. King Long has built an international sales presence across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, Africa-related export channels, and the Americas. In 2008, overseas sales were reported to represent approximately 25% of company sales, while the company held an estimated 18% share of China's bus export market. In recent years, King Long's international strategy has included cooperation with local distributors, bodybuilders, and vehicle manufacturers. In Australia, it worked with Bus Stop Sales and Volgren on the EVolution Complete low-floor battery-electric bus and an associated chassis platform. In 2025, it collaborated with Northern Ireland's Wrightbus under the Rightech sub-brand on compact battery-electric buses for the United Kingdom and European markets. These partnerships illustrate a shift from exporting finished vehicles alone toward market-specific configurations, local body integration, and regional compliance. King Long remains positioned as a technology-oriented, export-focused Chinese bus brand serving public transport authorities, fleet operators, tourism companies, schools, airports, and commercial-vehicle users. World Brand Lab ranked King Long 113th in its 2024 list of China's 500 Most Influential Brands. No current corporate website, public listing, financial statements, or executive roster is established in the supplied reference material. Golden Dragon is the trade name used by Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus Co., Ltd., a Chinese joint-venture manufacturer established in 1992 in Xiamen, Fujian. The company develops, manufactures, and sells buses and light vans, with products generally spanning vehicles from about 5 metres to 18 metres in length. Its portfolio includes urban transit buses, intercity buses, coaches, minibuses, school buses, police and command vehicles, vans, and selected sport-utility vehicles. The brand operates within the King Long group, one of China's major bus-manufacturing groups. Golden Dragon has been positioned as a broad commercial-vehicle brand rather than a specialist serving only one transport segment. Its range includes conventional buses as well as electric and other alternatively powered vehicles, reflecting the wider shift in the bus industry toward lower-emission urban mobility. The XML6700 midibus, for example, has also been produced in an electric form by Nanjing Golden Dragon Bus under a related designation. Golden Dragon's domestic range includes a large number of city-bus models, coach families, intercity vehicles, and midibuses. Several products use market-specific names such as Phoenix, Triumph, Superstar, Grand Cruiser, Splendour, Explorer, and Navigator. The company also offers smaller commercial vehicles and vans, including the V3, V4, X5, and Z4 lines, together with vehicles marketed under the Haishi Longyun name. Special-purpose products include school buses, police buses, and police command vehicles. Internationally, Golden Dragon vehicles have been exported to nearly 40 countries and regions across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. The company has also pursued entry into European markets. The Philippines has been a notable overseas market: in 2012, Golden Dragon Bus appointed Trans-Oriental Motor Builders, Inc. as a distributor and assembler based in Naic, Cavite. Philippine-market offerings have included coach and city-bus configurations such as the Marcopolo, Marcopolo II, Splendour, Chuanliu, and Navigator. Golden Dragon is therefore best understood as a Chinese bus-manufacturing brand with a wide product architecture, international ambitions, and strong links to the King Long group. Public reference material identifies the brand's products and market presence but does not provide enough reliable information to document current executives, financial performance, ownership percentages, or a current official website.

King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd. was established in December 1988 in Xiamen, Fujian, as a Chinese enterprise focused on coach manufacturing. It became one of the country's longer-established bus manufacturers and developed around the expanding domestic market for passenger transport, tourism, and urban public transit. The company concentrated on large and medium-sized buses while also building capabilities in light commercial vehicles and special-purpose bodies. King Long's later corporate structure placed it within the King Long Motor Group. The group includes King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd., Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus Co., Ltd., and Higer Bus Co. Ltd. King Long United is jointly held by Xiamen Automotive Industry Corporation, Xiamen State-owned Assets Investment Co., Ltd., and Taiwan's San Yang Industry Co., Ltd., with reported stakes of 50%, 25%, and 25%. This ownership structure connected the manufacturer to Xiamen's automotive industrial development while also incorporating Taiwanese participation. A major capacity and technology-upgrading program began at the end of 2004. The relocation project was designated as an important project of Fujian Province and Xiamen City. The new manufacturing site was located in Xiamen Automobile Industry City in Guannan Industrial Park, Jimei District. The first phase covered approximately 25 hectares, with a reported gross building area of 85,000 square metres and designed annual capacity of about 6,000 buses and coaches. A second phase was reserved for an additional 15 to 20 hectares. The planned completed-site capacity was described as up to 13,000 large and medium-sized buses annually. By 2008, King Long had become a significant participant in China's bus-export industry. Its products were being sold across a wide group of overseas markets, including countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, and the Americas. Overseas sales were reported to account for about one-quarter of company sales, and the brand was credited with an approximately 18% share of China's bus export market at that time. Export activity included finished coaches and buses as well as vehicles adapted to local operating conditions and regulatory requirements. The product portfolio broadened over time. In addition to touring and intercity coaches, King Long offered city buses, school buses, airport buses, minibuses, vans, ambulances, cargo vehicles, police vans, postal vehicles, and forest-fire vehicles. The company also developed alternative-power vehicles, including hybrid and battery-electric buses. Its technology activities extended to autonomous transport through the Apolong unmanned minibus, reflecting the industry's move toward electrification, connected systems, and automated mobility. King Long's international development increasingly used partnerships with local companies. In July 2023, Australian dealer Bus Stop Sales announced cooperation with King Long and Volgren on the EVolution Complete, a low-floor single-deck battery-electric bus for Australia. The associated EVolution Chassis was intended to support additional locally produced body configurations. The vehicle specification referenced in the source material included VDO electronics, CATL batteries, Thermo King air conditioning, and ZF drive axles. On 29 January 2025, King Long and Northern Ireland-based Wrightbus collaborated under the Rightech sub-brand. The partnership introduced the 6-metre Rightech RB6 and 9-metre RB9 low-floor single-deck battery-electric buses, designed for both left- and right-hand-drive markets in the United Kingdom and Europe. The cooperation represented another example of King Long combining its vehicle platform with regional manufacturing, distribution, and market expertise. King Long continues to operate as an active Chinese bus and commercial-vehicle brand. Its facilities are described as covering around 200,000 square metres and employing more than 1,800 people, including approximately 400 technical engineers and 30 postgraduates. Its current strategic profile combines domestic bus manufacturing, export sales, electrification, specialized vehicles, and regional partnerships. In 2024, World Brand Lab ranked it 113th among China's 500 Most Influential Brands. Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus Co., Ltd. was established in 1992 in Xiamen, Fujian, as a Chinese joint-venture company focused on bus and light-van development, manufacturing, and sales. From its formation, the company operated under the Golden Dragon trade mark and built a product scope covering vehicles approximately 5 to 18 metres long. This range allowed it to address several parts of the passenger-transport market, including urban public transit, intercity routes, tourism, school transportation, and special government or law-enforcement uses. The company developed as part of the wider King Long group. Within that group, Golden Dragon became one of the brands associated with China's expanding bus-manufacturing sector. Its product catalogue grew beyond a small set of conventional coaches to include city buses, intercity buses, midibuses, special-purpose vehicles, vans, and selected SUVs. The catalogue also included vehicles with different powertrain and body configurations, including electric versions in the midibus category. Golden Dragon's bus range has included numerous XML-designated models. Urban products have covered short, medium, and articulated-style length classes, while coach families have been sold under names including Phoenix, Triumph, Superstar, Grand Cruiser, Splendour, Explorer, and Navigator. The company has also offered the XML6700 midibus, a model associated with licensed Toyota Coaster production and an electric derivative produced by Nanjing Golden Dragon Bus. Special-purpose variants have included school buses, police buses, and police command vehicles. International expansion became an important part of the brand's development. Reference material describes exports to nearly 40 countries and regions in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America, with the company also seeking to expand into Europe. Overseas market activity has often involved local distributors, assemblers, or market-specific specifications rather than a single globally uniform product range. The Philippines illustrates this approach. In 2012, Golden Dragon Bus appointed Trans-Oriental Motor Builders, Inc., located in Naic, Cavite, as a distributor and assembler. Philippine-market products included versions of the XML6127, XML6103, XML6102, XML6125J28C, and XML6129J18, marketed under names such as Marcopolo, Marcopolo II, Splendour, Chuanliu, and Navigator. Some Philippine variants were distinguished by different headlamp and body treatments across production series. Golden Dragon's later public profile remains primarily that of an operating bus and commercial-vehicle manufacturer within King Long. The available reference material does not establish a precise current ownership structure, present leadership team, financial results, or a verified current corporate website. Its documented historical significance rests on its broad model range, export footprint, and role in the international expansion of Chinese bus manufacturers.

• 2025

  Rightech electric-bus partnership with Wrightbus

  [1]King Longen.wikipedia.org

  King Long and Wrightbus introduced the Rightech RB6 and RB9 battery-electric buses for United Kingdom and European applications.

• 2024

  Listed among China's 500 Most Influential Brands

  [1]King Longen.wikipedia.org

  World Brand Lab ranked King Long 113th in its 2024 China 500 Most Influential Brands list.

• 2023

  Australian EVolution electric-bus collaboration

  [1]King Longen.wikipedia.org

  King Long, Bus Stop Sales, and Volgren developed the EVolution Complete battery-electric bus and EVolution Chassis for Australia.

• 2012

  Philippine distribution and assembly arrangement

  [6]Golden Dragon (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Golden Dragon Bus appointed Trans-Oriental Motor Builders, Inc. as a Philippine distributor and assembler in Naic, Cavite.

• 2008

  Strong position in China's bus-export market

  [1]King Longen.wikipedia.org

  King Long was reported to hold approximately 18% of China's bus export market, while overseas sales contributed about 25% of its sales.

• 2005

  New manufacturing project advanced as a Fujian and Xiamen priority

  [1]King Longen.wikipedia.org

  The new plant project in Jimei District was advanced as a key industrial project, with a first-phase designed capacity of about 6,000 buses and coaches per year.

• 2004

  Relocation and technology-upgrading project initiated

  [1]King Longen.wikipedia.org

  A major relocation and manufacturing modernization project was formally launched at the end of 2004 in Xiamen Automobile Industry City.

• 1992

  Company established in Xiamen

  [6]Golden Dragon (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus Co., Ltd. was established as a Chinese joint-venture bus and light-van manufacturer.

• 1988

  Company established in Xiamen

  [1]King Longen.wikipedia.org

  Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd. was established in December 1988 to develop, manufacture, and sell buses and coaches.

A broad Chinese commercial-vehicle brand focused on buses, coaches, minibuses, special-purpose vehicles, and light vans, with coverage from urban transit to intercity and export applications.

• Coach

  Touring and intercity coaches

  King Long's coach portfolio includes large and medium-sized vehicles for tourism, intercity passenger transport, and group travel. Model families use XML and XMQ designations and cover midibus and full-size coach applications, including vehicles around 12 metres long. These products form the historical core of the brand's business and are sold in China and export markets.

• Urban transit buses

  City and transit buses

  The city-bus range includes single-deck urban buses in multiple lengths and configurations. The portfolio includes conventional diesel, hybrid, and battery-electric variants intended for municipal transit agencies and commercial fleet operators. Models are offered for standard urban routes, higher-capacity services, and different market requirements. Golden Dragon's city-bus portfolio includes multiple XML-series vehicles covering different body lengths and operating configurations. Listed examples include the XML6105JEVD0C1, XML6115, XML6125 family, XML6155, XML6180J, XML6845, and XML6925J13CN. The range is intended for scheduled urban transportation and includes vehicles associated with conventional and electrified transit applications.

• Light commercial vehicle

  Light vans

  King Long produces light vans and related derivatives for passenger transport, cargo, public-service, and specialized fleet uses. Listed families include Jinwei, Kaige, Kairui, Jockey or Saima, Longyao, cargo vans, minibuses, ambulances, police vans, postal vans, and forest-fire vehicles.

• School bus

  School buses

  The school-bus range consists of dedicated bus configurations for student transportation. Listed examples include the XMQ6100ASN, XMQ6660ASD, XMQ6660XC, XMQ6730ASD, XMQ6802ASD, XMQ6900BSD, and XMQ6998ASD.

• Battery-electric bus · 2023

  EVolution Complete and EVolution Chassis

  Developed for the Australian market with Bus Stop Sales and Volgren, the EVolution Complete is a low-floor single-deck battery-electric bus. The related EVolution Chassis provides a platform for other bodies and was specified with CATL batteries, VDO electronics, Thermo King air conditioning, and ZF drive axles.

• Battery-electric bus · 2025

  Rightech RB6 and RB9

  The Rightech RB6 and RB9 are compact low-floor single-deck battery-electric buses developed with Wrightbus. They measure approximately six and nine metres respectively and are intended for both left- and right-hand-drive operation in the United Kingdom and European markets.

• Autonomous minibus

  Apolong

  Apolong is an unmanned or autonomous minibus associated with King Long's work in automated mobility. It represents the brand's expansion beyond conventional bus manufacturing into autonomous public-transport and shuttle applications.

• Luxury and long-distance coaches

  Coaches

  Golden Dragon coaches serve tourism, charter, intercity, and other long-distance passenger applications. Named examples include the XML6103 Phoenix, XML6122 Triumph, XML6126 Superstar, XML6129E5G Grand Cruiser, XML6125J23 Explorer, and XML6129J18 Navigator. The Splendour family covers several chassis and body designations, including products listed for the Philippine market.

• Intercity buses

  Intercity buses

  The intercity range includes the XML6103J92, XML6121E51G, XML6127D52, and XML6127D53. These vehicles occupy the segment between city transit and full-size touring coaches, supporting regional passenger routes and longer-distance scheduled services.

• Midibuses and minibuses

  Midibuses

  Golden Dragon's midibus range includes the XML6700, XML6606, XML6807, XML6855, and XML6857. The XML6700 is associated with licensed Toyota Coaster production and has also been adapted into an electric bus by Nanjing Golden Dragon Bus under the NJL6706EV designation.

• Special-purpose buses

  Special vehicles

  Special-purpose products include the XML6723 and XML6901 school buses, the XML6700 and XML6127 police buses, and a police command bus. These vehicles extend the brand beyond ordinary passenger service into education, public security, and mobile command applications.

• Light vans

  Vans and light commercial vehicles

  The light-commercial range includes the Golden Dragon V3, also identified as the XML6532 or Xiamen Golden Dragon Hiace, together with the V4, X5, and Z4. The Haishi Longyun line includes GLE550, GLE570, GLE650, GLE850, and GLE850S variants.

• Sport-utility vehicle

  Righto V3

  The Righto V3 is listed as a Golden Dragon SUV offering, showing that the company has extended beyond buses and vans into selected passenger-vehicle formats.

• Localized coaches and city buses

  Philippine-market buses

  Products associated with the Philippine market include XML6127 versions marketed as Marcopolo and Marcopolo II, the XML6103 Marcopolo II, XML6102 Splendour, XML6125J28C Chuanliu, and XML6129J18 Navigator. Different production series used distinct combinations of Golden Dragon headlamp and body treatments.

• 2016

  Suzhou King Long's RMB 519 million NEV subsidy fraud leads to nearly RMB 800 million in recovery and fines

  The Ministry of Finance reported that King Long United Automotive Industry (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. had 1,683 new energy vehicles registered early before completion and over-claimed RMB 519.2 million in central government subsidies. The Ministry of Finance recovered pre-allocated funds and imposed a RMB 260 million fine, canceling its eligibility for central government subsidies from 2016; the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology suspended its recommendation qualification for new energy vehicle models and ordered production suspension for rectification. It was the largest fine in a new energy vehicle "subsidy fraud" case, and shares of parent company King Long Motor fell sharply.

  Source

Read more

• 2025

  Enter the Rightech electric-bus collaboration with WrightbusProduct launch

  Background

  King Long sought a regional approach to the United Kingdom and European electric-bus markets, including vehicles suitable for both driving sides.

  Action taken

  King Long and Wrightbus launched the Rightech RB6 and RB9 low-floor battery-electric buses in six-metre and nine-metre formats.

  Aftermath

  The partnership expanded King Long's European electric-bus offering and combined its platform capabilities with Wrightbus's regional market position.

  Source

• 2023

  Develop the EVolution electric-bus platform for AustraliaProduct launch

  Background

  The Australian market required locally suitable low-floor electric buses and body configurations for public transport operators.

  Action taken

  King Long worked with Bus Stop Sales and Volgren on a complete battery-electric bus and a separate chassis platform for additional bodies.

  Aftermath

  The collaboration created a market-specific electric-bus offering combining King Long vehicle technology with Australian sales and body-manufacturing capabilities.

  Source

• 2012

  Local Philippine distribution and assemblyStrategy

  Background

  Golden Dragon sought to deepen its presence in the Philippine bus market through a local commercial and manufacturing partner.

  Action taken

  The company appointed Trans-Oriental Motor Builders, Inc. in Naic, Cavite, as a distributor and assembler.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement supported localized versions of Golden Dragon coaches and city buses, including Marcopolo, Splendour, Chuanliu, and Navigator variants.

  Source

• 2004

  Relocate and upgrade manufacturing capacityStrategy

  Background

  King Long faced the need to expand production and modernize its manufacturing base as China's domestic and export bus markets developed.

  Action taken

  The company initiated a relocation and technology-upgrading project at Xiamen Automobile Industry City, with a first phase designed for approximately 6,000 buses and coaches annually and additional land reserved for later expansion.

  Aftermath

  The project supported the development of a larger production base and was described as capable of reaching annual output of about 13,000 large and medium-sized buses after completion.

  Planned first-phase investment. Approximately RMB260 million planned investment (2004-2005 project)

  Source

• 2020.09.17

  Baidu Apollo and King Long debut autonomous minibus[10]百度Apollo与金龙客车全球首发自动驾驶中巴chinaz.com

  Baidu Apollo and King Long jointly debuted an L4 autonomous minibus, described as a global first.

• Unconfirmed

  King Long launches all-health bus[11]金龙客车推出“全健康客车”xm.fjsen.com

  King Long formally launched its “all-health bus,” developed with health-protection features including N95-level protection.

Read more

1. 1King Longen.wikipedia.org
2. 2China Bus Maker,New Energy Vehicle Manufacturer | king-long.comking-long.com
3. 3King Long Electric City Bus,Electric Coach,Electric Minivan Manufacturerking-long.com
4. 4Your Exclusive Service Partner – King Longking-long.com
5. 5About King Long-King Longking-long.com
6. 6Golden Dragon (company)en.wikipedia.org
7. 7Suzhou King Long's RMB 519 million NEV subsidy fraud leads to nearly RMB 800 million in recovery and finesauto.people.com.cn
8. 8Suzhou King Long's RMB 519 million NEV subsidy fraud leads to nearly RMB 800 million in recovery and finesm.21jingji.com
9. 9Suzhou King Long's RMB 519 million NEV subsidy fraud leads to nearly RMB 800 million in recovery and finesfinance.sina.com.cn
10. 10百度Apollo与金龙客车全球首发自动驾驶中巴chinaz.com
11. 11金龙客车推出“全健康客车”xm.fjsen.com