The 24th edition of Busworld Europe opens in Kortrijk Xpo in Belgium on Friday. Photo by Yan Ren

The 24th edition of the biannual professional bus and coach exhibition Busworld Europe opens in Kortrijk Xpo in Belgium on Friday. What makes it different from the previous editions is that many Chinese companies debut and display the most cutting-edge technology and their star products, greatly surprising the audience.

Busworld Europe (Kortrijk), the biggest B2B bus and coach exhibition in the world, has been rolled out since 1971. It is dedicated to buses and coaches alone: no other commercial vehicles or other modes of transportation are allowed. This gives the industry the attention it deserves and makes the exhibition a real celebration of bus and coach. Vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers show their latest products and services. The exhibition is opened from Friday, October 20 to Wednesday, October 25.

Higer, a world-class manufacturer of large and medium-sized buses in Suzhou, China, joined the Busworld Europe for the first time. At the launch ceremony, Higer showed 3 kinds of star products including E12 ultra capacitor city bus, which represents the leading technology of new energy buses, H9 multi-purpose medium coach and H12 coach.

Pandan, the largest public transport company in Israel, officially signed an order of 100 ultra capacitor buses with Higer on the spot. Chinese ambassador to Belgium Qu Xing, counsellor Guo Jianjun, Chairman of the Board Huang Chun from Kinglong Group, CEO Xie Siyu and overseas partners witnessed the signing.

Another Chinese company CRRC launched the “ACE Green Intelligent Transportation Solution”, focusing on building autonomous, connected and electric transportation. As proved by relevant studies, the intelligent transportation will reduce fuel consumption and exhaust gas emission by 30% and 26% respectively. For one 12-meter pure electric bus with operating range of 70,000km running for one year, 1000 kg exhaust gas emission can be reduced.

CRRC also fully exhibited its brand style by introducing its flagship products from the 18-meter rapid city bus with intelligent assistant driving and T-power high efficient system to the European high-end market.

Connexxion, a large public transport company in the Netherlands, has announced to order 21 units of BYD's brand new Midibus. BYD, a leading high-tech muntinational company based in Shenzhen in southern China made its debut at Busworld Europe. The deal is believed to be one of BYD's largest orders for heavy duty pure electric midibuses in Europe and is certainly the first significant one to be placed by a Dutch operator.

There are around 10 Chinese companies joining the big show. Many audiences told People’s Daily they were surprised to see the good quality and modern design of the buses from the Chinese companies. As more and more Chinese products and advanced technologies are introduced to Europe, European’s impression of Made-in-China changes gradually.