Bus Con Factory presents a competitive landscape where “international brands dominate technology, while Chinese brands dominate scale,” with leading companies building core advantages through technological R&D and localized services.
The following analysis examines mainstream manufacturers and their characteristics from two perspectives: international brands and Chinese brands.
International Brands: Technological Leadership, Focus on the High-End Market
1. Japan’s DENSO
As a core component supplier for the Toyota Group, DENSO is renowned for its high efficiency, energy saving, and reliability. Its bus air conditioner system utilize scroll inverter compressors (COP values exceeding 3.5), adapting to extreme environments from -40℃ to 55℃, and are widely used in high-end bus brands such as Volvo and Mercedes-Benz. The low-GWP refrigerant (R-1234yf) system launched in 2024 reduces global warming potential by 99% compared to traditional R-410A and has passed EU F-Gas regulation certification.
2. France’s VALEO
Valeo’s core competitiveness lies in intelligent thermal management. Its heat pump + waste heat recovery composite system can reduce the energy consumption of electric buses by 30%, and it holds over 25% market share in the European new energy bus market. The product integrates CAN bus control technology, supporting real-time diagnostics and remote maintenance, and is suitable for luxury buses over 12 meters in length.
3. Germany’s MAHLE
A German company, leads in lightweight and compact design. Its roof-mounted air conditioning unit weighs 15% less than the industry average (approximately 180kg), making it suitable for frequent start-stop scenarios in urban buses. The newly launched parallel flow microchannel heat exchanger in 2025 increases the heat dissipation area by 30%, ensuring that cooling capacity reduction is less than 5% at 45℃.
Chinese Brands: Significant Local Advantages, Rapid Rise in the New Energy Sector
Bus Con Factory is rapidly rising by leveraging its local bus manufacturing advantages, with SONGZ and BUSCLIMA being typical examples.
1. China’s SONGZ
A leading domestic bus air conditioning manufacturer, SONGZ sold over 17,000 units in the first half of 2024, achieving a market share of over 50% in the public transportation sector. Its core customers include OEMs such as Yutong, BYD, and Zhongtong. Its new energy bus air conditioning system adopts an integrated design of dual PTC heating and battery thermal management, improving heating efficiency by 20% at -30℃. Revenue from battery thermal management business increased by 138% year-on-year (reaching RMB 81.36 million). Products cover the entire range of 6-18 meter models, and the roof-mounted system has passed a 100,000 km bump test.
2. China’s BUSCLIMA
has over 450,000 units in the global market. Its all-electric air conditioning system uses an SM180 inverter compressor, supporting 10-100% stepless speed regulation, reducing energy consumption by 25% under electric bus operating conditions. Products have passed EU E-MARK certification, are exported to over 130 countries, and are suitable for the high temperatures (55℃) of the Middle East and the extreme cold (-35℃) of Northern Europe.
Visit www.busclima.com or contact busclima@kingclima.com
Bus Con Factory recommends
High-end long-distance buses: Focus on -40℃ extreme cold start and low noise (≤65dB) performance;
City buses/new energy buses: SONGZ and BUSCLIMA are cost-effective choices, with their battery thermal management technology improving vehicle range by 15%-20%;
For export to underdeveloped regions: Dust and corrosion resistant, with designs better suited to complex road conditions.
From an industry trend perspective, “electrification + decarbonization” is driving accelerated technological iteration. Companies with heat pump integration, intelligent diagnostics, and rapid service capabilities will dominate the future market.
English 
Spanish