KINGLONG Marks the 20‑Year Partnership with Saudi Arabia, Jointly Building a Belt and Road Showcase Project

For two decades, KINGLONG has maintained close‑knit cooperation with Saudi‑based NTC (National Trade Company LTD). United in shared goals and forging ahead hand‑in‑hand, both sides have reaped fruitful achievements. In 2015, a fleet of 1,140 KINGLONG smart school buses were delivered to Saudi Arabia, building a safe and worry‑free transport link for local students to school. In 2019, 894 units of 12‑meter KINGLONG luxury coaches were shipped to Saudi Arabia to provide transport support for the Hajj pilgrimage service.

Twenty years ago, Saudi Arabia’s high‑end passenger‑bus market was long‑dominated by European and American brands, and Chinese‑manufactured products faced severe “trust‑building challenges”. Guided by its strategy of “building reputation through quality”, KINGLONG forged deep‑rooted local‑market partnerships with NTC and embarked on a localization journey. In 2011, KINGLONG outbid Mercedes‑Benz and secured an order for 150 luxury coaches, breaking the long‑standing monopoly held by European brands. From building a flagship Middle‑East production‑cooperation model under the Belt and Road Initiative, to setting a benchmark for Saudi‑adapted upgrading of high‑end Chinese equipment; from exporting products, to brand‑building overseas, and further extending technology and cultural outreach, KINGLONG’s robust products and advanced technologies have withstood harsh local conditions such as extreme heat and sandstorms. Through localized customization and premium after‑sales services, the KINGLONG brand has earned high‑level trust and recognition among Saudi people, and has gradually grown into the Chinese bus brand with the largest Hajj‑related vehicle fleet in the country.

Recently, KINGLONG and NTC held a grand ceremony in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, celebrating their 20‑year friendship‑based partnership. This cross‑border event pays tribute to two decades of shared trials and achievements, and stands as solid recognition of China’s strategy to enable its high‑end equipment manufacturing sector to “go global and grow stronger”.

At the ceremony, Hou Chenlei, Chairman of KINGLONG, reviewed the two‑decade‑long cooperation journey and extended sincere gratitude to NTC and all partners. He noted that Saudi Vision 2030 launched by the Saudi Government is highly aligned with global sustainable‑development trends. Upholding its global social responsibilities, KINGLONG has been committed to technological innovation and breakthroughs for new‑energy buses. The newly launched products mark a major milestone in KINGLONG’s deep‑rooted presence in the Middle‑East market, as well as strong support for Saudi Arabia’s green‑transport development. They will deliver greener, smarter and more‑efficient mobility solutions for Saudi Arabia and surrounding regions, helping the country take solid strides forward in global sustainable‑development efforts.

Ever since its buses were first delivered to Saudi Arabia in large batches, KINGLONG has regularly dispatched highly‑skilled, efficient after‑sales‑service teams to the country, set‑up dedicated service stations and spare‑parts centres, and provided clients with detailed technical documentation and operational training, establishing itself as a service benchmark on the Saudi market. Twenty years of shared progress between KINGLONG and NTC vividly demonstrates the transformation of “Made‑in‑China, Created‑by‑China” products, evolving from followers to industry leaders. Their partnership serves as a living example of China‑Saudi collaborative development and shared benefits under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The Vice‑Chairman of NTC delivered an address praising KINGLONG’s outstanding market performance in Saudi Arabia. He pointed out that KINGLONG has won widespread recognition across the country thanks to its reliable quality, innovative technologies and premium services. Meanwhile, KINGLONG has actively advanced the green‑transition of Saudi public transport and helped the nation build a greener, smarter and more‑sustainable future.

As an active advocate of green‑growth initiatives, KINGLONG is spearheading its low‑carbon transition driven by new‑quality productive forces. The company has built‑up a comprehensive technical layout covering battery‑electric, hybrid and hydrogen‑fuel‑cell buses, carried‑out in‑depth research on autonomous‑driving systems and electrical‑electronic architectures, and developed a full‑spectrum new‑energy product portfolio for global markets. It is believed that KINGLONG’s new‑energy buses will play a demonstrative role in the global transport sector and accelerate worldwide green mobility transformation.

Looking ahead, KINGLONG will launch all‑round cooperation with NTC in innovation‑driven development, environmental‑protection projects, technology sharing, and industry‑education integration. While delivering products and services better suited to local Saudi requirements, KINGLONG will actively promote industry‑education collaboration, cultivate high‑skilled local talent, accelerate the commercialization of outcomes from the Maritime Silk Road College, and further deepen international production‑capacity cooperation. The enterprise will contribute the “KINGLONG Solution” to the low‑carbon transition of public transport in Saudi Arabia and across the globe, composing a powerful contemporary symphony that unites Eastern wisdom with Gulf‑region ambitions.