On May 30th, BAIC Foton successfully delivered 312 city buses to Madagascar, marking a significant milestone. This initiative is a concrete outcome of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit. The order represents the largest single-batch export of buses by a Chinese brand to the African region and signifies a new chapter in green transportation cooperation under the China-Madagascar "Belt and Road" Initiative (BRI). It also indicates that the BRI cooperation between China and Madagascar has entered a new phase of high-quality development.

Under the strong leadership of the Party Committee of Beiqi Foton, the company actively engaged with President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar during the 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit, inviting him to visit its Beijing headquarters. President Rajoelina emphasized that improving transportation infrastructure is a crucial driver for Madagascar's national transformation, economic growth, and social progress. During his visit to Beiqi Foton's new energy bus facility, he expressed keen interest in the company's new energy bus products and looked forward to closer cooperation.

In response, BAIC Foton promptly assembled an expert team that traveled to Madagascar to conduct in-depth research on the specific requirements for vehicle usage scenarios, operating conditions, vehicle performance, product configurations, and seating layouts. Based on this research, the company developed an integrated solution that includes product customization, operational support, and maintenance services. Leveraging its technological strengths in green and intelligent technology, as well as its comprehensive full-lifecycle service system, BAIC Foton stood out in fierce competition.

As a flagship project of China-Africa cooperation under the "Belt and Road" Initiative, the 312 buses delivered in this order are innovatively equipped with intelligent temperature control systems and anti-corrosion body technologies tailored to Madagascar's hot and rainy climate. Considering local road conditions, the buses have been reinforced with improved chassis passability and optimized seating layouts to enhance operational efficiency and passenger comfort.

Notably, these buses will serve Madagascar's major international events in stages. The first batch of 42 buses will debut on the streets of the capital during Madagascar's National Day celebrations on June 26th. Meanwhile, 270 main models will serve the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit held in Madagascar in August. This will showcase the strength of "Made in China Intelligence" to African dignitaries and contribute Chinese wisdom to Africa's transition towards green and intelligent development.

As an active participant in the "Belt and Road" Initiative, Beiqi Foton entered the Madagascar market as early as 2012 and has engaged in in-depth cooperation with local partners. The company has now introduced a full range of products, including heavy-duty trucks, light-duty trucks, pickups, vans, and new energy vehicles, to meet the diverse transportation needs of the Madagascar market and jointly promote carbon reduction goals. Beyond Madagascar, BAIC Foton has achieved a series of cooperation results in other African markets such as South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, and Ethiopia over the past two decades. The company has also unveiled its Foton Africa Strategy, which aims to enhance system capabilities across the entire value chain, including products, networks, services, spare parts, financing, and talent, through three 3-year action plans. This strategy seeks to achieve breakthroughs in key businesses such as heavy-duty trucks, pickups, and buses, thereby assisting African countries in realizing sustainable development in the transportation sector.