A new business guide on the China truck and bus market finds growing export and business opportunities for U.S. manufacturers of clean technology and fuel components, systems and vehicles.  

This includes natural gas, hybrid and electric systems and other cleaner, higher efficiency technology for trucks and buses.

The report from CALSTART, “Business Opportunity Guide: Advanced Technologies for Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicles in China”, supports a CALSTART program to assist U.S. companies to launch or expand exports to China.  Called the US-China Clean Truck and Bus Forum, the program is a partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration.

The new report documents how China is now the world’s largest producer of vehicles and that its medium- and heavy-duty vehicle market is a source of tremendous deployment activity in advanced technology and alternative fuels.  

This has not been widely appreciated in the U.S., according to the report. Natural gas truck and bus growth in China is expanding rapidly, as evidenced by Beijing Transit’s recent plans to procure three thousand liquefied natural gas (LNG) buses by 2015. This represents more buses in one purchase than operate in the primary L.A. regional bus system. Similarly, China operates an aggressive 25 city demonstration effort for new energy vehicles (NEVs), including electric and hybrid medium and heavy-duty vehicles.  

Despite these aggressive goals, China is falling behind its deployment plans, according to the report. The government has recently expressed greater openness to foreign collaboration in these technologies. Given U.S. leadership in clean commercial vehicle technologies, the report provides guidance to U.S. firms on the key market segments, players and strategies.

“This report and the US-China Clean Truck and Bus Forum really showcase the potential win-win for U.S. and Chinese firms,” notes CALSTART President and CEO John Boesel. “China has one of the biggest world commitments to use technologies and fuels U.S. companies have led to develop.  This can lead to job growth for the U.S. and cleaner transportation in China.”

An executive summary of the report is available on line at www.chinacleantruck.org, the website of the US-China Clean Truck and Bus Forum.