GVT To Assemble Yutong Electric Buses In Negri Sembilan
GVT Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of GoAuto Group, has signed an agreement with Yutong Bus Co., Ltd for a strategic partnership for local distribution and completely knocked down (CKD) assembly of energy efficient (EEV) and electric (EV) buses. This adds EEV and EV bus models to an earlier agreement signed in February 2023, and brings the total to 14 models. So far, GVT has received an official order for 40 units of EEV buses.
“Yutong is among the world’s largest electric bus manufacturers, experiencing significant growth. They boast a remarkable daily production exceeding 400 units and have achieved a cumulative global sales figure of 175,000 units of new energy buses. In 2023 alone, Yutong sold an impressive 36,518 units of new energy buses. Backed by their mastery of smart technology embedded in each vehicle, we are confident that Yutong buses deliver a comfortable and safe driving experience,” said Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, Executive Director of GVT who has signed the agreement with Michael Lu, Regional Manager, Asia Pacific, Yutong.
The CKD operations for Yutong’s EEV and EV buses will be done at the NexV Manufacturing Sdn Bhd facility in Chembong, Negri Sembilan. This facility is a joint venture between CarePlus Group and GoAuto Group and is Malaysia’s first EV assembly facility. This ‘Green Technology Facility’ includes a robot welding system and painted body ED coating for the production and assembly of new energy vehicles. Operations is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2025. The CKD operations here is expected to cut delivery time down to 3 months instead of the typical 4 to 6 months. 
The order and agreement involving 14 EEV and EV bus models from the Yuton showcase a variety of buses designed with practicality. Yutong series buses prioritise accessibility, offering special spaces for wheelchairs. The entryway is low, measuring between 230 – 300 cm, to facilitate easy boarding and disembarking for passengers. This bus range is also equipped with USB ports for both driver and passengers, along with a BOSCH steering system. Notably, these buses boast an acceleration time from 0 to 30 km/h in less than 10 seconds and a gradability of 15%.
The Yutong bus series are also designed with safety in mind. The vehicle body’s reinforced closed ring structure is designed to distribute force to all parts of the bus during an impact. The Yutong electric buses also integrate the battery, drive motor, and controller that are compliant to IP68 and IP6K9K, the highest safety standards for automotive spare parts. Customers can also select optional features including a 360-degree panoramic camera system, collision warning system, electronic braking system (EBS), and anti-lock braking system (ABS) + anti-slip regulation (ASR).
The Yutong electric buses use batteries from CATL and incorporates additional safety features into the cooling system. This system utilises an advanced nitrogen-cooling, patented exclusively to Yutong. The cooling system is equipped with a comprehensive integrated safety solution technology known as Yutong Electric & Battery Safety Standard (YESS). The YESS system provides five layers of protection, encompassing whole-vehicle security; system security; box security; component security; and monitoring security.
Further, Yutong EEV and EV buses come with the RECTRL Intelligent Electric Drive System with the objective of greatly reducing power consumption, enabling longer battery life and achieving zero emissions. The RECTRL system consists of 4 electronic technologies and 4 intelligent technologies.
The 4 electronic technologies are:
- Stepless speed change – the bus driver does not need to step on the accelerator pedal, allowing for a more comfortable ride for passengers.
- Regenerative braking energy recovery system – converts surplus energy into stored electrical energy when the driver applies the brakes. This stored energy serves as a supply for extended journeys, effectively renewing and repurposing electricity.
- Dynamic frequency conversion – aids in managing the energy discharge from the electric steering wheel through the utilisation of the electric hydraulic power steering system. This enhances the smooth operation of the power steering while reducing power consumption.
- Inverter air conditioners – equipped with automatic adjustment of cooling capacity, this can help adjust the temperature according to the environment. This system is able to reduce electricity consumption by as much as 15% compared to normal vehicle air conditioning.
The 4 smart technologies in the RECTRL system are:
- Intelligent energy management
- Automatic adjustment of cooling capacity that can control the temperature of different areas separately
- Controller area network (CAN)
- Intelligent remote monitoring platform
For more information on GVT’s range of EEV, EV and diesel buses, please visit www.goautovan.my
