Recently, Chinese tourists exploring the northern town of Kirkenes in Norway were surprised to find a fleet of Chinese new energy buses operating in the Arctic town at nearly 70 degrees north latitude. According to local drivers, this marks the first operation of Chinese new energy buses within the Arctic Circle, representing a milestone moment for Chinese brands.
These buses are the first batch of new energy buses delivered by YUTONG to customers in the Norwegian Arctic Circle in 2023. Leveraging leading advantages in technology and quality, YUTONG has set a new record for the operation of Chinese new energy buses at the northernmost point globally, becoming the sole Chinese bus brand to enter the Arctic Circle.
Customized for operational routes, specific environments, and driver habits, YUTONG designed and developed the buses with configurations tailored to the demands of cold regions. This includes features such as high-power heating radiators, anti-skid chains, sand spreaders, enhancing the safety of travel.
To meet the special corrosion resistance requirements in high-humidity environments, YUTONG has implemented anti-corrosion processes in critical components like the chassis frame and internal structures in easily corroded areas. This ensures that the entire vehicle remains structurally corrosion-free throughout its lifecycle, ensuring operational effectiveness in polar environments and safeguarding the travel safety of Arctic residents, creating greater value for customers.
In addition, YUTONG's battery thermal management and electronic control technologies enable automatic heat circulation among the battery, motor, controller, brake system, and air conditioning, ensuring the battery operates at a reasonable temperature. The liquid cooling system for the battery, along with the IP68-rated triple protection system, prevents safety accidents caused by short-term or nighttime water immersion. Intelligent features like remote air conditioning scheduling and remote fault diagnosis provide significant convenience for end customers in their daily operations.
The fact that YUTONG has not been deterred by various challenging conditions but rather has won recognition from Norwegian customers is a testament to its comprehensive leadership in product technology, cost-effectiveness, and industrial chain advantages.
In the process of Chinese new energy automotive companies entering the global stage, Norway is often considered a gateway. Not only is Norway the country with the highest penetration rate of new energy vehicles in Northern Europe, but as the northernmost country on the Eurasian continent, it serves as the world's most authoritative "cold-resistant" testing ground for electric vehicles. If an electric bus can establish itself here, it will significantly dispel potential consumers' concerns about the winter range and cold resistance of pure electric buses in other regions. As the first Chinese bus brand to enter the Arctic Circle since its debut in Norway in 2020, YUTONG has become the largest supplier of new energy buses exported from China to Norway in just a few years, with products covering cities such as Oslo and Bergen.
Being the focus of global electric vehicle companies has made Norway's electrification process 15 years ahead of the world. At the same time, the competition in the Norwegian market is intense. Previously, tests were conducted in the Norwegian market on electric vehicles from 21 brands representing major countries worldwide. While the pass rate was barely acceptable, it eliminated many well-known global automobile brands.
With the continuous increase in the penetration rate of new energy buses in the European bus market and YUTONG's sustained deepening in the high-end market, the market share of YUTONG's new energy buses in Europe continues to rise.
