China’s Seat Coach Market in July 2025: Yutong Still Rules the Game

China’s new energy bus sector had another busy month in July, though the story depends on which part of the market you look at. Overall sales were high, yet the seat coach segment showed both strength and weakness. Year-on-year, the numbers were up by nearly a third, but compared with June, demand cooled off.

A Market That Looks Strong on Paper

According to figures released by the China Bus Statistics Information Network, China sold 3,701 new energy buses over seven meters in July. That’s a big leap — more than 81% higher than the same month last year. But here’s the catch: it was also 21% lower than June.

Within that total, 940 vehicles were seat coaches, the kind used for intercity or long-haul trips. Sales of this category grew by 30% compared to July 2024, however, compared to last month (June), the number dropped by 12%.

So the market is sending mixed signals. On one hand, policy support and the long-term shift toward electrification are clearly boosting demand. On the other hand, the month-to-month numbers show that buyers are still cautious.

Why the Jump Compared with Last Year

The growth looks impressive, but part of the explanation is simple: July 2024 was a weak month. With a low base, 2025’s figures naturally look stronger.

Policy is another factor. Authorities in China have been encouraging not just city bus operators but also intercity and highway companies to go electric. That push is beginning to show in the seat coach market.

Why Sales Slowed from June

The slowdown compared with June is also easy to explain. First, the economy lost some steam. China’s manufacturing PMI in July fell to 49.3%, which is below the expansion line. A weaker economy translates into weaker transport demand.

Second, June was the last month of the half-year. Many companies closed a lot of orders then, simply to make their first-half reports look better. That left July with less room to grow.

Seat Coaches Trail the Pack

If we step back and look at the first seven months of the year, the difference between seat coaches and the rest of the bus market becomes clearer.

From January through July, China sold 21,851 new energy buses, up about 36% from the previous year. Seat coaches made up 5,443 of those, growing just 1.9%.

The message here is that city buses are adopting electric power far faster than long-distance coaches. It isn’t surprising: long trips need reliable charging along the route, and operators have to do the math carefully to see if electric coaches make financial sense.

Who’s Winning?

The July rankings don’t contain many surprises:

• Yutong stayed at the top with 386 seat coaches sold. That was 53% higher than a year ago, though lower than June. Yutong alone controlled more than 41% of the market — a dominant position by any standard.
• Zhongtong came in second with 129 units, up sharply both year-on-year and month-on-month. Its share was close to 14%, which is respectable, but still far behind Yutong.
• Foton Ouhui posted the most eye-catching result. It sold 89 units, which was 71% more than last year and almost 2,900% more than June. That jump was enough to put it in third place.

The rest of the companies each sold fewer than 80 units. Eight of the top ten saw year-on-year growth. Yaxing had the fastest growth rate at 120%. Month-on-month, six companies rose while four fell.

January–July Totals Show the Bigger Picture

From January to July, the numbers underline how dominant Yutong really is. It sold 2,717 seat coaches, nearly four times as many as the second-place company. Its market share was just shy of 50%.

In second place, Higer Bus sold 695 units, but that was down by more than 30% compared with last year. Zhongtong came third with 497 units, a solid 34% increase.

Most other companies sold under 400 units. Geely Xingji stood out with a huge percentage increase — more than 680% — but from a very small base.

What It Means

Three points stand out from all of this:

• Yutong is still far ahead. Its dominance is so strong that rivals have little chance of catching up in the short term.
• The adoption pace is uneven. City bus fleets are going electric quickly, but intercity fleets are moving much more slowly.
• The monthly swings are not unusual. June benefited from end-of-half-year sales pushes. July looked weaker by comparison.

Opportunity for Buyers Abroad

One side effect of this rapid change in China is that more second-hand buses are becoming available. Fleet operators who are upgrading to electric vehicles are selling off their older models.

That creates opportunities for overseas buyers, and this is exactly where Tianying Used Bus comes in. The company, based in China, specializes in exporting used buses from leading manufacturers like Yutong, King Long, Higer, and Zhongtong.

For transport companies in Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, or Latin America, working with Tianying means:

• A wide choice of models and brands.
• Lower costs compared with buying new.
• Help with paperwork, inspections, and logistics.
• The reassurance of dealing with a veteran used bus supplier experienced in international trade.

📞 WhatsApp/Mobile: +86 189 3713 2324
📧 Email: inquiry@tianyingusedbus.com

Final Word

July 2025 underlined the two faces of China’s new energy bus sector: strong growth when compared with last year, but clear cooling compared with June. Yutong remains the dominant force, while other brands are slowly gaining ground.

For overseas buyers, the big picture is simple. As China upgrades its fleets, there are more used buses for sale on the market. Companies like Tianying Used Bus make it possible to tap into that supply, bringing proven vehicles into service in other parts of the world.