This photo provided by Changwon city government shows Chinese bus manufacturer Higer Bus Co.’s electric bus.
SEOUL, April 16 (Korea Bizwire) — Chinese electric bus manufacturers are scrambling to secure production plants in South Korea.
Sources said that three South Korean companies in charge of the exclusive distribution of Chinese electric buses are working with Chinese firms to set up production facilities for electric buses.
It is the first time for Chinese electric bus plants to be set up in the country.
Pline Co., the exclusive distributor for Chinese electric bus maker Higer Bus Co., has secured 13,000 square meters of land in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province to set up an assembly line in a joint venture with Higer and a South Korean conglomerate.
Pline will set up production plants, as well as battery systems and infrastructure for maintenance.
Higer is a major electric bus manufacturer in China that has sold more than 100 buses in South Korea.
Bumhan Motors Co., the exclusive distributor for China’s Dandong Huanghai Automobile Co., recently set up a production facility in Haman County, South Gyeongsang Province, with the aim of manufacturing 2,000 electric buses annually.
TS Eco Energy, based on its technological cooperation with China’s Jiangxi Kama Business Bus Co. for electric bus production, plans to establish an electric bus manufacturing plant in the Gyeongsang region.
These firms not only receive technological support from the Chinese companies on electric bus manufacturing, but also the facilities and funds needed to set up production plants.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
