Chinese OEMs exported +15K zero emission buses in 2024, growing 28%

China’s export of new energy buses (NEBs) grew +28% in 2024 reaching 15,444 units with length over 3.5-meter, according to data reported on Chinese trade media Chinabuses.org. One out of four exported buses are powered with electrified drivetrain (25%), thus belonging to the ‘New Energy’ category. It’s easy to assume, then, that total volume of buses exported from China is around 60,000 units.

Electric bus export 2024 from China

Chinabuses notes that “the year-on-year growth rate of new energy bus exports lagged behind the overall bus export growth rate” for both December and the entire year of 2024, the proportion of new energy bus exports in total exports has stabilized at around 25%, laying a solid foundation for further positive development in the future”.

BYD kept the top position with 3,582 new energy buses exported. It’s the only OEM to exceed the figure of 3,000 units.

Yutong exported 2,700 electric buses, gaining the second position thanks to a +84% growth, achieving a market share of 17.5%. In 2023 over 36,000 units worldwide and more than 700 units in Europe were registered by Yutong, with a strong emphasis on electric buses, according to an interview we had with William Ding, Western Europe managing director, at Next Mobility Exhibition in Milan in May 2024.

Higer follows with 1,907 new energy buses, +40% on 2023 (market share: 12%).

Chinabuses adds: “For the full year of 2024, seven out of the top ten companies achieved year-on-year growth. Among them, Dongfeng Special Automobile recorded the highest year-on-year growth rate of 525%, mainly due to its low base in the previous year. CRRC Electric Vehicle, which ranked seventh, also achieved a significant year-on-year growth of 366.52%, entering the top ten compared to 2023 and improving its ranking compared to the first 11 months of 2024. Its market share also increased from 3.9% in the first 11 months to 6.68%, indicating a promising outlook”.