Blue Bird is in China this week as the manufacturer is exhibiting its flagship Vision school bus at the 2012 China Bus, Truck and Component Expo in Beijing.
The Type C Conventional Vision school bus on display at the show, which began on Wednesday and ends Friday, already meets Chinese safety specifications. It can be configured and offered with various options to fit the Chinese market.
“Blue Bird is still exploring potential partnerships for the Chinese market,” said Blue Bird President and CEO Phil Horlock. “While we have not signed any agreements at this time, we are certainly looking at all the options and will make an official announcement when this occurs.”
This is Blue Bird’s second time traveling to China. Company executives in February participated as the only American manufacturer in the first-ever China International School Bus Development Forum and Exhibition. The event was created in response to the Chinese government’s calling for more stringent student transportation standards after a November 2011 crash involving a nine-passenger minibus, which had 62 kindergarteners inside, killed 21 students.
Executives outlined to major central and provincial government officials the key fundamentals of the American school bus transportation system while they learned a lot about the Chinese school bus market.
“We have listened the Chinese citizens outline their needs for a safe school transportation system and have been working on a product that will meet and exceed the needs of the people while providing Blue Bird’s signature safety, reliability and durability,” Horlock said.
