Chile to take delivery of 1,022 Foton electric city buses

MANILA: Foton has inked a deal to sell 1,022 electric city bus units to Chile for a total of RMB 1.6 billion. The buses will be used in the public transportation system of the city of Santiago. The agreement pushes Foton into the top spot in the Chilean new energy vehicle market.  Foton has also once again set a new record for Chinese electric buses in international markets, following the order of 1,000 electric bus units from India in 2020.

Almost 40% of the operational electric buses in Chile are Foton, totaling over 300. After this deal, the Foton electric bus fleet will become the largest in Latin America.

Foton received Chile's first order of 215 new energy bus units in 2019, heralding a new era for the country's public transport system. In 2021,  Foton received an order for 138 units, making it one of the top players for local electric bus markets. Foton has strengthened its presence in Chile, assisting local governments there in reducing carbon emissions.

In 2021, Foton joined Zero Emission Bus Rapid-Deployment Acceleration (ZEBRA), a project by the International Council on Clean Transport (ICCT) and C40 Cities Network. Over 3,000 electric city bus units will be deployed in Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Colombia as part of this over US$1-billion investment.

As one of the new energy vehicle suppliers for ZEBRA, Foton is committed to sustainable development and is focused on reducing carbon emissions and enhancing people's mobility in Latin America.

Governments around the world have been actively supporting the commercial use of electric vehicles against the backdrop of decarbonization. Chile targets to develop a fully electric public transport system before 2040.

As one of the largest firms in China's new energy commercial vehicle market, Foton offers new energy-powered vehicle solutions that are specially designed for various transportation scenarios. Foton new energy city buses have made their mark in countries like India, Egypt, Malta, New Zealand, and Australia, and are used by public transport systems, schools, and airports. In Germany, Singapore, Australia, and Thailand, Foton iBlue new energy trucks and vans are already in use and have received the EU WVTA certificate.

Photo from Foton International Co., Ltd.

Also read: Foton turns over 300 trucks to YTO Express PH