Foton America Bus Co., Inc. has been actively pursuing leads and promoting their newest bus across America. So much so, that they have been driving across the country to meet with various customers and attend exhibitions. Beginning in Orlando, FL, the bus trek began at the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute’s conference and exhibition. From Orlando it moved on to Birmingham, AL for a show and demonstration with Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Association. After Birmingham, the bus was then driven up to Canadian Urban Transit Authority in Montreal, Quebec. It was received with much attention and discussion as the “new kid on the block who wants to shake things up,” noted an attendee. From Montreal, the bus was driven back to Birmingham, where it was used to shuttle attendees at the Moss Rock Festival.
The bus then went north to an open house by Colonial Equipment, Foton America’s Mid-Atlantic Distributor, and shown to a wide range of transit authorities, government officials, and foreign consulates. The open house was held at Colonial’s new facility in Monrovia, MD.
After the success at the Colonial Equipment show, the bus was driven down to Florida, where it was demonstrated at six locations in six days. Each stop was a scheduled meeting with government, university, and/or transit officials.
“Florida was a great trip for us. The reception that we received was unbelievably positive. People looked at the bus, went inside, and said how nice it was. Then they would ask how much it cost. That was when their jaws dropped,” commented Cliff Clare, Jr., CEO of Foton America. “People just expect to hear the same price they are currently paying or even $10,000 less. When they heard how much they are actually overpaying, I think it probably made their stomachs lurch.”
After Florida, the bus was driven to New Mexico, with a quick showing and fueling in Dallas, TX. Once it arrived in New Mexico, a conglomerate of Native American tribes had requested a demonstration. After a day of showing the bus, it headed on to California for more viewings by potential customers.
“The bus performed how we expected it would,” notes Jared Schnader, Vice President of Market Development for Foton America. “We drove this bus over 7,000 miles across the country, and achieved over 1,000 miles per fill up. The bus performed as it should, and that’s the sign of solid engineering.”
“In a market as quality driven and price sensitive as the American market, we know that we have a winner on our hands,” says Clare.
Foton America’s bus for Altoona testing is scheduled to arrive in the US on February 14, 2010, a great Valentine’s Day gift for Foton America, and a present that bus operators and owners will fall in love with.