The Ethiopia pure electric KD Project of Golden Dragon. [Photo/Golden Dragon]

Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus Co Ltd has commenced mass production and delivery of its pure electric vehicle KD (Knock-down) project in Ethiopia. The project marks the first new energy KD project established by a Chinese bus company in an East African country, setting a new benchmark for capacity cooperation between China and Ethiopia. It is a new highlight of both BRICS cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative.

Cultivating the new energy market

In recent years, with the support of the Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Commerce, Golden Dragon and the Ethiopian Belayneh Kinde Group (BKG) have deepened their cooperation in the field of new energy, expanding the export of KD components and forming a strong strategic partnership.

This order includes 150 pure electric city buses and 100 pure electric 12-meter bus kits, marking the first large-scale order of pure electric KD bus kits in Ethiopia and the entire African region. The vehicles will operate in Addis Ababa to improve the local public transportation system. Upon delivery, the total number of Golden Dragon buses in the Ethiopian market will reach 900, making it the Chinese bus brand with the largest fleet of new energy buses in the local market.

Establishing East Africa's first new energy KD project

This order is being exported in KD form. Golden Dragon, in partnership with BKG, has pioneered the establishment of a pure electric vehicle KD project in Ethiopia, marking the first new energy KD project in East Africa.

"We dispatched a team of engineers and senior technicians to Ethiopia to formulate the design and layout of the plant, while also imparting production and management expertise to the local workforce," said Jiang Yonghui, overseas sales director of Golden Dragon. "Furthermore, Golden Dragon Buses, in collaboration with BKG, has established a technical training school in the region to help train electrical engineers."

Golden Dragon helps train local electrical engineers. [Photo/Golden Dragon]

Leveraging strengths to expanding overseas

KD exports are part of the unstoppable international expansion of China's manufacturing industry. This year, Golden Dragon's KD exports have surpassed its complete vehicle exports for the first time, accounting for 51 percent of the total.

Golden Dragon currently has 12 KD projects in overseas markets, including Thailand, Vietnam, and Egypt, making it the Chinese bus company with the most KD factories abroad. From the initial export of products to the current multi-level export of technology, capacity, brand, and services, the company has achieved remarkable success in overseas.