King Long: owner, models, markets and what the name means
Facts checked United States status as of 4 September 2026
- State-owned
- SSE 600686
King Long is the bus brand of Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry, founded in December 1988 and now half owned by the listed Xiamen King Long Motor Group. It builds city buses, coaches, minibuses and vans between roughly 5 and 18 metres, with a large battery-electric range sold as E-Bus and E-Coach.
The brand has been an export mainstay since the 2000s, when overseas sales were about a quarter of the company's volume. Buses have gone to Australia, the Philippines, Malta, the United Kingdom and a long list of Middle Eastern, African and Asian markets. Exports remain the larger half of the parent group's vehicle revenue.
King Long is one of three bus brands in the same group. The other two are Golden Dragon, from a separate Xiamen company, and Higer, from the group's Suzhou operation, which is why the three names appear side by side at trade shows without being the same product line.
Key facts
| Chinese name | 金龙 “jin-LONG” 金 'gold' + 龙 'dragon' |
|---|---|
| Also written | KING LONG, Kinglong and Golden Dragon |
| Owner | King Long |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Xiamen, China |
| Origin | China |
| Vehicles | Buses and coaches |
| Segment | Commercial |
| United States | Not sold in the United States — King Long buses are not sold in the United States. |
| Official site | www.king-long.com/ |
| Founded | December 1988 in Xiamen, Fujian |
| Product range | Buses, coaches, vans and special vehicles from about 5 to 18 metres, including battery-electric E-Bus and E-Coach lines |
| Export share | Overseas sales were about 25% of King Long's revenue and about 18% of Chinese bus exports by 2008 |
| Ownership of the manufacturer | Xiamen King Long Motor Group's holding rose to 50% in 2018; Xiamen Haiyi Group and Taiwan's Sanyang Industry hold the rest |
Who owns King Long?
Fujian Provincial SASAC controls Fujian Motor Industry Group Co., Ltd..
Fujian Motor Industry Group is a Fujian provincial state enterprise. We did not verify the ownership chain from a filing.
Fujian Motor Industry Group Co., Ltd. owns King Long at 21.02% since 25 August 2014.
Fujian Motor Industry Group agreed on 30 January 2014 to acquire 21.02% of Xiamen King Long Motor Group and completed on 25 August 2014. It is described in 2026 filings coverage as the controlling shareholder and has continued to buy shares; the current percentage was not verified.
| Holder | What it is | Share | Since | What the source says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiamen Municipal state investors | holds a stake in | not published | not published | Xiamen Haiyi Group, a Xiamen municipal state company formerly known as Xiamen Automotive Industry Corporation, held 25% of King Long United before the 2018 change and retains a minority. The current percentage was not verified. |
| Sanyang Industry Co., Ltd. (SYM) | holds a stake in | not published | not published | Taiwan's Sanyang Industry (SYM) held 25% of King Long United before the 2018 change and retains a minority. The current percentage was not verified. |
The full ownership page for King Long · Is King Long Chinese?
Where King Long is sold
Recorded in 7 market s: CN, Australia, Philippines, MT, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Where a company publishes only its principal markets, that is a floor and not a complete list.
| Country | Code | Market page |
|---|---|---|
| China | CN | no page yet |
| Australia | AU | Chinese cars in Australia |
| Philippines | PH | Chinese cars in the Philippines |
| Malta | MT | no page yet |
| United Kingdom | GB | Chinese cars in the United Kingdom |
| United Arab Emirates | AE | Chinese cars in the United Arab Emirates |
| Saudi Arabia | SA | Chinese cars in Saudi Arabia |
King Long: questions people ask
- Who owns King Long?
- The listed parent, Xiamen King Long Motor Group, is controlled by the Fujian provincial state group Fujian Motor Industry Group. The manufacturer behind the brand is 50% owned by that listed group, with Xiamen Haiyi Group and Taiwan's Sanyang Industry holding the remainder.
- Is King Long the same as Golden Dragon?
- They are two brands in the same group, made by different Xiamen companies. Both translate the same Chinese characters, 金龙, one by sound and one by meaning.
- Where are King Long buses sold?
- In China and more than 40 export markets, including Australia, the Philippines, Malta, the United Kingdom and a range of Middle Eastern, African and Asian countries. They are not sold in the United States.
Related
Sources for King Long
- Wikipedia, King Long. Read .
- Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd., King Long official site. Read .
- Wikipedia, King Long United Automotive (zh). Read .