In Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, natural-gas-powered buses imported from China have become a striking sight on city streets. In recent years, Chinese clean-energy buses have continued to roll out overseas. Operating on routes across Bishkek and other cities, they support local green mobility and foster skilled-talent development.
In 2022, the Bishkek municipal government purchased 120 natural-gas buses from Zhongtong Bus Holding Co., Ltd. Compared with the small diesel buses widely used locally, these natural-gas buses offer more spacious interiors, lower emissions and greater ride comfort. Their reliable in-service performance prompted a follow-up order for another 1,000 units.
Qi Honglei, Dean of the Bus Research Institute at Zhongtong Bus Holding Co., Ltd., said the natural-gas buses were custom-developed for local operating requirements. Adopting lightweight integral-body technology, the vehicles can travel more than 400 kilometres on a single gas refill, fully meeting passenger-transport demand during peak hours. "Countries differ in climate, road conditions and energy resources. We deliver tailor-made solutions based on real-world conditions so our vehicles can operate sustainably in local markets over the long term."
Omurzakov, General Manager of Bishkek City Transport Company, said the imported Chinese buses now run on 48 routes, covering nearly all of Bishkek and Chuy Region. Deployment of these natural-gas buses has effectively eased urban traffic congestion while delivering strong environmental benefits, aligning with Bishkek's goals for a green economy and sustainable development.
Beyond supplying vehicles, Chinese enterprises attach great importance to nurturing local technical personnel. In September 2023, as the Bishkek Bus Maintenance Centre was officially put into operation, Zhongtong Bus set up an integrated local-support system covering on-site service, spare-parts stockpiles and technical training.
At the Bishkek Bus Maintenance Centre, repairman Askhatov said Chinese engineers regularly run training sessions to upgrade local technicians' maintenance capabilities. "Whenever we run into technical issues during repairs, Chinese specialists give prompt guidance on correct fault diagnosis and troubleshooting."
Mu Xinjun, Zhongtong's resident service engineer in Kyrgyzstan, said: "At the beginning, we carried out repairs while local staff observed. Later we worked side by side. Today local technicians can independently resolve many technical problems. Our goal is to help build a complete local support system for independent fault identification and resolution."
Drawing on market experience accumulated across Central Asia, including Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Zhongtong Bus has expanded its global footprint in recent years, delivering custom-built vehicles and supporting service packages for Portugal, Denmark, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and other markets.
In 2024, 48 Zhongtong battery-electric city buses were exported to Portugal. In 2025, Zhongtong e-buses entered Denmark for the first time to support local low-carbon public transport. This year, 42 dual-source trolleybuses manufactured by Zhongtong arrived in Mexico to serve selected matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Travelling across continents, Chinese clean-energy buses stand as a vivid testament to China's contribution toward the global green transition.
