ZF & YUTONG IN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP FOR NEW BUS DEVELOPMENT
Chinese bus manufacturer Yutong Bus Co., Ltd has signed a deal for strategic cooperation with the German supplier of driveline and chassis components ZF Friedrichshafen AG. The two companies will work together with regard to new technologies and new products, to be used in coming bus generations.
A top executive of Yutong noted that the signing of the deal will bring Yutong and ZF into a new stage of partnership beyond the parts business. They will join hands in the development of new buses and exploration of new markets. The two companies had showcased their respective new products and new technologies before inking the deal.
Actually, Yutong started to cooperate with ZF early in 2001 and since then has used ZF's components for urban buses and long-distance coaches. The transmissions, steering gears, absorbers, axle, clutches and other auto parts made by ZF are supplied by Yutong as standard outfit for its buses.
In 2007, Yutong sold 25,522 buses, with 3,319 of them exported overseas. The further cooperation with ZF is meant as a tool to improve the product quality and brand image of this Chinese bus make.