Chinese busmakers and automakers alike have gone school bus crazy. The reason: the central government is pumping out a lotta money for new school buses after some very nasty accident with very unsafe buses that left over 50 children dead.

In an earlier article I introduced the matter and three brand-new school buses from China, today we have number four. Yez, when there is money around all suddenly care… This is the Kinglong XMQ6900ASD4 ‘Smart School Bus’ from busmaker Kinglong, aka Golden Dragon, Jin Long in Chinese, from the great city of Xiamen in Fujian Province.

A very sharp looking thing, very modern, engine safely far up front. ‘Smart’ in its name stands for a ‘smart school bus operations management system’, beat that. The system is able to automatically monitor, in ‘real time’, the number of students on the bus to prevent overloading (Kinglong has no faith in school bus drivers to simply count the number of students, and rightly so; the death toll of previous accident was so high because the buses were overloaded to the extreme…).

The system also has a fully automatic SMS-system that informs parents and teachers where exactly the bus is, at any given moment. Best of all: the bus is equipped with a weather-forecast computer that warms the driver (yez, that driver) about upcoming rainstorms, strong winds and slippery roads. There is yet another system that warms the driver for accidents along the way.

All together quite a brilliant package. But!, all those systems can only work with full cooperation from telecom-companies, the weather bureau and local authorities. Kinglong says they are working on that but this won’t be easy, local authorities in China are much for famous for what they don’t do than for what they do. We say: Kinglong, nice bus, now good luck…

Via: Huanqiu, Kinglong.

King Long (aka Golden Dragon, aka Jin Long) is China’s biggest bus maker. It wants into cars and tries to get this rather good looking hatch on the market. The last time we saw it was almost one year ago. Reason for the delay is rumored to be the Chinese government that doesn’t want another automaker in the already very crowded market. The fact though that King Long is still testing the thing might mean approval has been given after all.

King Long might also choose for the export-only option. In that way it doesn’t need approval from the Chinese government. That scenario however seems unlikely, who wants to miss out on the biggest market in the world?

Engines: 1.3 and 1.6. Size comparable with cars such as the Suzuki Swift. Price would start around 70.000 yuan. That is, if it ever makes it to the market.

Via: Sina.com.

King Long (aka Golden Dragon, aka Jin Long) is China’s biggest busmaker. The company is now working to get big in passenger cars as well. This small five door hatchback will be their first, the yet nameless car loox clean and sporty, a bit like a shrunken last-gen Subaru Impreza wagon. Engines: 1.3 and 1.6.

All is ready but: the Chinese central government still needs to approve the venture. The government wants the auto industry to consolidate to be better prepared for the fight against the rest of the world, it is not really waiting for another new automaker. But the power of the biggest busmaker in da country can make a lot of difference, approval so likely will come soon. If given, the car can launch next year. More pics:

Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry Corporation is China’s biggest busmaker from the city of Xiamen in Fujian province. It is a joint venture between Xiamen King Long Motor Corporation (51%), Xiamen State-owned Assets Investment Corporation (24%) and Taiwanese San Yang Industry Corporation (25%).

The company makes all kind of coaches, city buses and passenger vans, one van is based on a licensed old-generation Toyota Hiace, sold as King Long Higer in China. The company now wants a go in passenger cars and is working on a small hatchback and a sedan. The hatchback was seen testing in Taiwan so likely there are plans for export to the island.

It was spotted earlier while testing in China.

Confusingly the Chinese name for King Long is ‘Jin Long’, meaning ‘Golden Dragon’. Jin Long is the original name of the company, when they went for an English name they decided not to translate it but to change it a bit, to a cool ‘King Long’, ‘king’ as in King of England.

In China the company’s coaches carry two nameplates: the English King Long and the Chinese Jin Long, 金龙, in characters. This kind of mess makes the Chinese auto industry sometimes a challenge to report about.., but a good one.

China.

Hatch in Taiwan.

Inset of a blue car clearly shows the King Long logo but name for Taiwan is not sure, could be either King Long or San Yang.

Engines are a 1.3 and a 1.6. No further info available at this time.

The new King Long Higer, based again on a licenced Toyota Hiace, this time the new one. It is almost ready and will hit la market within 3 months.

Web: Xiamen King Long Motor [site], San Yang Industry [site] and King Long Buses [site].