Summarize：June 5, 2026 – Zhongtong Bus Co., Ltd. released its production and sales bulletin for May 2026, with full details as follows:
In May 2026, Zhongtong Bus manufactured 1,183 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 15.19%, and sold 1,459 vehicles, jumping 45.75% year-on-year. Breakdown by vehicle segment:
Large buses: Output reached 633 units (down 4.09% YoY); sales reached 971 units (up 38.52% YoY)
Medium buses: Output reached 474 units (up 44.07% YoY); sales reached 436 units (up 67.05% YoY)
Light & logistics vehicles: Output reached 76 units (doubling YoY, +100%); sales reached 52 units (up 33.33% YoY)
For the January–May cumulative period of 2026, the company produced 5,828 buses in total, a year-on-year rise of 17.69%, with total sales of 6,332 buses, marking 31.56% year-on-year growth.
Double Growth Year-on-Year & Month-on-Month – Stellar Market Performance
According to the official report, Zhongtong Bus sold 1,459 units in May 2026, versus 1,001 units in the same period last year, a 45.75% year-on-year increase. Month-on-month, sales climbed 7.28% from April’s 1,360 units.
Zhongtong Bus achieved simultaneous year-on-year and month-on-month growth in both production and sales for May 2026, with sales growth far outpacing the industry average. This robust performance stems from three core drivers: rebounding domestic market demand, surging overseas order deliveries, and an optimized product mix.
First, the domestic bus market entered a concentrated vehicle replacement cycle. A large batch of old city buses put into service in previous years reached their mandatory scrappage lifespan, triggering centralized government bidding and procurement for public transit fleets in Q2, which significantly lifted large bus sales. Meanwhile, demand for corporate shuttle buses, scenic passenger transport, and urban-rural medium coaches continued to recover, fueling explosive growth for medium buses—the fastest-growing segment this month. Rising demand for micro-circulation minibuses and light special-purpose vehicles further boosted overall sales volume.
Second, overseas exports emerged as a key growth engine. Leveraging the global channel advantages of Shandong Heavy Industry Group, Zhongtong delivered a large volume of new energy bus orders to Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and other regions in May. Last year’s low overseas sales base also magnified this year’s sharp growth rate.
Third, the company’s streamlined delivery schedule and strong product competitiveness underpinned growth. A flood of domestic and overseas orders signed earlier entered mass production and shipment in May, lifting month-on-month production and sales figures. In addition, the company’s pure electric and hydrogen fuel buses align well with local policy incentives, boasting strong market appeal and a steady rise in bid-winning rates. Supported by stable supply chains and full production capacity, Zhongtong posted comprehensive production and sales gains across May.
May & Jan–May Sales Hit 5-Year Periodic Records
Historical sales data over the past five years shows landmark results for both the month of May and the January–May cumulative period:
Zhongtong Bus recorded cumulative sales of 6,332 units from January to May 2026, hitting a 5-year high for the first five months of a year. This is also the first time the company has surpassed 6,000 cumulative sales units in the January–May window over the past five years.
In summary, both May’s single-month sales and the January–May cumulative sales set new 5-year highs, delivering the strongest periodic performance on record. This outstanding growth is fueled by multiple tailwinds: a low comparison base, high-end product upgrades, group-wide global channel empowerment, and the release of full-year order backlogs.
From a baseline perspective, the industry downturn in 2022–2023 and market consolidation in 2025 created favorable year-on-year comparison conditions for this year’s sales surge. Meanwhile, the domestic travel market continues to recover, with steady expansion in niche demand including tourism passenger transport and corporate commuter shuttles, shielding the business from prior market volatility.
On the product side, Zhongtong achieved structural breakthroughs through iterative upgrades of premium tour buses and lightweight new energy models. The revamped lineup caters to fleets’ demand for high-end, energy-efficient vehicle replacements, lifting market share across niche segments and breaking its historic overreliance on standard public transit buses. Profitability and order acquisition capacity have improved in tandem.
Backed by coordinated global resources from Shandong Heavy Industry Group, Zhongtong has refined its overseas distribution and after-sales service network, accelerating expansion into high-end international markets. New energy buses now account for a growing share of overseas orders, forming a brand-new growth pillar. In addition, massive order backlogs secured at the start of the year entered centralized production and delivery from April to May, enabling efficient shipment cycles. Complemented by nationwide policies promoting electrification and trade-in programs for public sector vehicles, ample government and corporate procurement orders drive balanced growth in domestic and overseas markets, collectively pushing periodic sales to a five-year peak.
All Bus Segments Post Year-on-Year Growth; Large Buses Remain Core Mainstay
Medium buses lead single-month growth, while large buses top cumulative Jan–May sales
According to Zhongtong Bus’s production and sales bulletin, all large, medium, and light bus segments registered positive year-on-year sales growth for both May 2026 and the January–May cumulative period, with large buses accounting for over 60% of total sales volume in both timeframes, standing as the company’s absolute core product line. Segment performance is as follows:
May 2026 Single-Month YoY Sales Growth
All three bus segments recorded positive year-on-year sales growth:
Large buses: +38.52% YoY (below overall average growth)
Medium buses: +67.05% YoY (outperformed overall market, fastest-growing segment)
Light & logistics vehicles: +33.33% YoY (slowest growth among all segments)
Medium buses thus led sales growth for May.
January–May 2026 Cumulative YoY Sales Growth
All three bus segments also posted positive cumulative year-on-year sales growth:
Large buses: +33.27% YoY (outperformed overall market, fastest-growing segment)
Medium buses: +30.28% YoY (below overall average growth)
Light & logistics vehicles: +14.43% YoY (slowest growth among all segments)
Large buses therefore led cumulative sales growth for the first five months.
Market Share Breakdown
Large buses captured 66.55% of May’s total sales and 65.86% of January–May cumulative sales, firmly retaining their position as Zhongtong Bus’s dominant product category in both periods.
Why Large Buses Stand as Zhongtong’s Core Mainstay
Zhongtong’s large buses dominate the market thanks to outstanding cost performance, reliable durability, and full alignment with market and policy demands, with versatile applications spanning urban public transit, long-distance passenger transport, and group travel services.
First, the vehicles feature robust construction, low fuel consumption, and affordable maintenance costs. Built with sturdy frames and low-failure core components, they sustain heavy, round-the-clock operation with minimal breakdowns. Superior fuel efficiency and low post-purchase upkeep significantly reduce operating expenses for transit and passenger transport operators, shortening capital payback cycles.
Second, Zhongtong took an early lead in developing pure electric and hybrid large buses, featuring stable battery endurance and top-tier safety performance. The models fully comply with local environmental and energy conservation regulations while qualifying for supportive policy incentives. As cities roll out large-scale public transit vehicle replacement programs, Zhongtong large buses rank as the top choice for most operators.
Third, the product line delivers exceptional practicality. Spacious interiors and high passenger capacity suit diverse scenarios including urban commuting, intercity passenger transport, and corporate shuttle services. Riders benefit from comfortable cabins with low noise levels. A nationwide network of after-sales service outlets ensures rapid maintenance response, eliminating operational downtime caused by vehicle faults.
Combining low running costs, reliable performance, and wide-ranging applicability, Zhongtong large buses secure their position as the industry’s leading large bus model of choice.
editor@chinabuses.org
86-10-64867899;
