There is no singular company operating a nationwide bus service in China.  Instead, dozens of small companies ply the country’s highways.  However this segment of the country’s transport sector may prove to be an attractive investment target as the highway system expands, tourist numbers increase and rural Chinese continue migrating to urban areas.

China’s intercity bus market is largely controlled by regional leaders like Shanghai Bashi and Beijing Public Transport Holdings, but deals have allowed foreign capital to gain a foothold.  Already 15 years on China’s roads, Spanish-based ALSA was the only foreign player in the local coach travel market until summer 2009 when Singapore’s Mass Rail Transit (SMRT), the city state’s largest transport operator, spent RMB 320 million on a 49% stake in ZONA, the Shenzhen subsidiary of National Express Transportation Group.

China International Business – Nov 2009

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