CHINO, Calif. — Since entering the U.S. market in 2016 with the first-generation version of its HT35 and HT45 series buses, Chinese Hi-Tech Corporation (CHTC) has exceeded its sales goals.
“The company and its products have come a long way in a relatively short period of time,” said Scott Thorpe, vice president of CHTC Bus Group, the company’s U.S. subsidiary based in Chino.
“We are excited about the success we’ve had in 2017 and look for even greater things in 2018,” Thorpe said. “We’ve ramped up production in anticipation of increasing sales in the last quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018.”
He said during its first year in the U.S., CHTC focused on getting the motocoaches out to potential customers for evaluation and comments. With the help of those customers, the company released its second-generation version of the coaches.
The third-generation CHTC buses will be released in January at the United Motorcoach Association Expo 2018 in San Antonio.
CHTC paid special attention to the appearance and amenities of the newest models. They include leather seating in tan or black, a larger lavatory and wood accents gracing the interior.
To enhance the passenger experience, there are larger video monitors, better speakers, Wi-Fi and multi-media offerings. The third-generation buses also boast surveillance, DVR, multi-cameras and a black box as standard equipment.
The CHTC Bus Group realizes that one of the biggest obstacles that its customers face is hiring drivers. Focusing on comfort, the driver’s area has been enlarged, and the seat has all the bells and whistles to give the most comfortable ride possible.
“We feel that we can partner with our customers by offering new products that will help recruit drivers,” Thorpe said. “By offering these buses at a cost far below our competition, we allow our customers a greater return on our investment.
“Our retail price point is less than our competitor’s late model used buses. Our buses have over 70 percent U.S. content and use Cummins engines, Allison transmissions, ZF suspensions, MCC air-conditioning, Alcoa wheels and Michelin tires.”
The company currently operates out of Chino and Orlando, Fla. Plans for 2018 include moving to a larger facility near Chino.
CHTC recently expanded a showroom and service center in San Francisco. In addition, it will be opening showrooms and service centers in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta and New Jersey to better service its customers.
These locations will have sales, service and support personnel plus an in-house finance department. The goal is to always have 20 motorcoaches available for immediate sale and delivery.
“We’re dedicated to service after the sale, and our new service centers show that CHTC is serious about that commitment,” Thorpe said.
Founded in 1998, CHTC Corp. has multiple worldwide operations, with the CHTC Bus Group being a major subsidiary. The company employs more than 50,000 people and operates 22 subsidiaries in 20 countries.
The CHTC Bus Group has developed an integrated approach to bus design, research and development, and manufacturing. All manufacturing is done out of a state-of-the-art 2 million-square-foot factory in Nanchang in southeastern China.
The company prides itself on designing safe and reliable buses, which it sells around the world. It is one of the largest exporters of buses to Australia and the European Union. The company launched a new website at: www.chtcbusgroup.com.
