Golden Dragon Bus Embarks on Journey to Belgium:From "Made in China" to "Influencing Europe"

October 4, 2025 – The biennial Busworld Brussels expo kicked off in grand style. As one of the world's oldest and largest professional bus and coach exhibitions, this year's event attracted over 500 exhibitors from across the globe and featured more than 300 vehicle models on display, making it the undeniable "barometer" of the global bus industry.

Amid the dazzling array of international brands, Golden Dragon Bus made a stunning appearance with three heavyweight models: the PIVOT E15 all-electric city bus, the GECKO all-electric light commercial vehicle, and the all-new premium coach – the GC15, unveiled globally for the first time. The debut of these three models not only represents Golden Dragon's comprehensive layout across the three major sectors of new energy,light commercial vehicles, and premium coaches but also reflects the company's steadfast march toward "high value-added, internationalization, and high quality."

On the first day of the exhibition, Golden Dragon Bus Chairman Peng Dongqing granted an interview to reporters. Having just concluded back-to-back meetings with Nordic clients, he hurried into another conference room. "Meetings these days are almost non-stop," he said with a smile. "But this also indicates that European customers' interest in Chinese buses is growing day by day."

The European Market: A Touchstone for High-End Transformation

"The 15th Five-Year Plan period is a critical window for Chinese bus manufacturers to enter the global high-end market," Peng Dongqing stated unequivocally at the outset.

In his view, the European market is not only the technological high ground of the global bus industry but also a touchstone for testing a brand's comprehensive strength. Whether a Chinese bus brand can gain a firm foothold in Europe directly determines its global competitiveness.

He candidly admitted that after years of international exploration, Chinese buses are continuously approaching and even surpassing European standards in manufacturing craftsmanship, system integration, and design philosophy. Taking Busworld as an example, Chinese brands have rapidly elevated their presence at European exhibitions, transitioning from "supporting roles" a few years ago to "spotlight players" today.

"European customers used to ask, 'Can Chinese buses even run?' Now, they are more concerned with questions like 'What is your range? How about comfort and your service system?'—this shows they are starting to see Chinese brands as real competitors," Peng Dongqing noted.

From "Well-Made" to "Understanding Europe"

Faced with the refined standards of established European brands like Setra, Peng Dongqing is keenly aware that gaps still exist, but this precisely charts the direction for Chinese brands' progress. To better understand the needs of European customers,Golden Dragon has established multi-channel feedback mechanisms in Europe,conducting in-depth analysis of the market's high standards for safety, reliability, and driving experience.

"European customers value not price, but trust," he emphasized. "They want to see long-term commitment and continuous improvement from companies."

It is for this reason that Golden Dragon has undergone a systematic upgrade in recent years targeting the European market—from R&D design and production manufacturing to supplier systems and after-sales service, comprehensively aligning with high standards. The newly launched "QianTu" series of premium coaches is the culmination of Golden Dragon's high-end strategy.

In the development of the "GC" series, Golden Dragon, for the first time, implemented the "Four Standardizations" concept (commonization, serialization, platformization, and standardization) throughout the entire product lifecycle. Five models in the 8–15 meter range feature a unified body frame structure design, significantly increasing the commonality of parts. This not only optimizes production efficiency but also greatly facilitates the operational and maintenance experience for European customers.

Lean Manufacturing: Interpreting High-End Through Craftsmanship

"Competition at the high end is, in essence, a competition of craftsmanship," Peng Dongqing stated resolutely.

A quiet manufacturing revolution is taking place at Golden Dragon's Longhai production base: innovations in digital processes and intelligent inspection have improved the accuracy of the vehicle body dimension chain, enabling Golden Dragon products to achieve internationally leading levels in overall vehicle stability, sealing, and quietness.

"These seemingly minor data changes actually represent a leap forward in the entire manufacturing system," he said. "They not only make the product more refined but also allow customers to feel the brand's sincerity in the details."

Europe is the Future, Not Just a Market

Concluding the interview, Peng Dongqing discussed Golden Dragon's global vision—he believes Europe is not just a market but a bridge to the world.

"Those who can establish a foothold in Europe will gain global recognition."

He revealed that Golden Dragon is actively advancing localized cooperation in Europe, including the construction of after-sales service networks, the setup of parts supply centers, and adaptation research for new energy technologies. "In the future, we hope to establish an integrated operational system in Europe encompassing R&D, manufacturing, and service."

In his view, Chinese bus brands are facing an unprecedented period of opportunity. With the acceleration of the global transition to new energy, Chinese companies, leveraging their technological accumulation in electrification and intelligent fields, are poised to achieve an "overtaking on the curve" in the high-end bus market.

"Golden Dragon Bus will unswervingly follow the high-end path, ensuring that 'Made in China' is not just about 'being able to manufacture,' but also about 'moving the world,'" Peng Dongqing affirmed with conviction.

"We want the world to see the strength and elegance of Chinese buses."