Ankai Ushers in 2026 with Major Export Milestone: 215 Buses Depart for Mexico

On 7 January 2026, Ankai Bus celebrated a significant export achievement with a roll-off ceremony at its Hefei facility for 215 natural-gas-powered city buses destined for Monterrey, Mexico. Upon arrival, the 12-metre vehicles will join the city's public transport fleet, providing a low-carbon upgrade to mobility in one of Mexico's key industrial hubs.

This delivery marks Ankai's third large-scale shipment to Mexico within four years. The company set a precedent in March 2022 with the export of 800 10.5-metre CNG buses, which remains the single largest export order for Chinese buses in the Mexican market. Since its initial entry into Mexico in 2017, Ankai has placed several hundred gas-powered buses into service across cities including Monterrey, Chihuahua, and Ciudad Juárez, earning a strong reputation for reliability and environmentally friendly operation.

The latest order for 215 units culminated after 18 months of technical and commercial discussions. The new models feature advancements over their predecessors, including reduced fuel consumption, increased power output, and an extended driving range, all while complying with Euro V-equivalent emission standards. Key design features comprise a patented full-monocoque body structure, strategically repositioned CNG tanks for enhanced safety, anti-corrosion cathodic electrocoating complemented by metallic paintwork, one-step boarding accessibility, and a more spacious passenger area.

Nestled against the eastern Sierra Madre mountains, Monterrey is Mexico's second-largest industrial centre and a model city for sustainable urban development. The municipal government has actively promoted natural gas in public transit to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO). Ankai's new buses are poised to support the city's progress toward its 2030 green mobility goals.

According to Ankai, the buses were tailor-made through market-specific R&D. Engineers accounted for Monterrey's altitude, high summer temperatures, stop-start operational patterns, and BRT lane specifications when finalising driveline calibration, suspension settings, and HVAC system capacity. After-sales support will follow the successful model established in 2022, featuring on-site Chinese service engineers, a local spare parts depot, and a comprehensive three-year maintenance agreement.

Mexico now stands as Ankai's largest market in the Americas. The company's global presence spans over 100 countries and regions, with its CNG, battery-electric, hybrid, and hydrogen fuel-cell buses operating from Rome to Bangkok. With this fleet of 215 buses now en route, Ankai has announced plans to deepen its strategic focus in the Americas, aiming to expand assembly partnerships and after-sales networks across Latin America in 2026.