Scania introduces exclusive long distance coaches to China

Scania is now launching its internationally awarded high-end coach chassis to the growing Chinese market. At Bus World Asia 2006 in Shanghai, Scania together with the local bus body builder Golden Dragon show an entirely newly designed long distance high end coach.

“We can now, together with one of China’s leading bus body builders, Golden Dragon, offer the market exclusive long-distance coaches,” says Mats Harborn, responsible for Scania in China. The bus is built on the Scania high-end long distance coach chassis K124 with independent front suspension, which gives extra stability and a smooth comfortable ride. The coach shown is a 12 meter 45 seat bus. “Our strategy is to work together with local strong body builders in markets where we are active. Demand for this type of safe and comfortable long-distance coaches with excellent fuel economy, is growing in the whole of South East Asia. Therefore cooperation with Chinese body builders has also potential to lead to large export business from China,” says Mats Harborn. “Scania has a very strong position in East Asia for long-distance coaches,” says Senior Vice President Henrik Henriksson, who is responsible for Shania’s global sales of bus chassis. Since many years Scania is the market leader in this segment in Taiwan and has traditionally a very strong position also in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. At the Exhibition Scania is also showing a 6X2 chassis for 13.7 meters buses. This chassis has a hydraulically steered tag axle which improves turning radius, drivability and reduces tire wear and tear. It is equipped with a 420 Hp (306 kW) 12-litre engine with world renowned high torque and low fuel consumption. Scania is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks and buses for heavy transport applications, and of industrial and marine engines. A growing proportion of the company’s operations consists of products and services in the financial and service sectors, assuring Scania customers of cost-effective transport solutions and maximum uptime. Employing 30,000 people, Scania operates in about 100 countries. Research and development activities are concentrated in Sweden, while production takes place in Europe and South America, with facilities for global interchange of both components and complete vehicles. In 2005, invoiced sales totalled SEK 63.3 billion and the net income amounted to SEK 4.7 billion. Bus chassis production takes place in Sweden, Brazil and Mexico. Bodybuilding takes place in Poland and Russia. Scania press releases are available on the Internet, www.scania.com