Belarus Replaces Intercity Route With Chinese Buses

Belarus is set to replace minibuses for a domestic long-distance route with Chinese Zhong Tong coaches, rather than opting for local production by the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ).

The buses are set to replace the existing vehicles used for the route between Belarusian capital Minsk and the western city of Hrodna, one of the most popular routes in the country.

Local news outlet Hrodna.life reported on Thursday that the transition to Chinese Zong Tong coaches started in December 2024 when they began replacing local minibuses, with the investment of new coaches costing local operators $1.5 million.

Belarus’s Interregional Association of Carriers said ticket price remains unchanged at 35 Belarusian rubles ($10).

The association cited safety and comfort as key reasons for the replacement, adding that the new coaches would “operate on a permanent basis” starting April 21.

However, Hrodna.life, in its earlier coverage, reported that local residents were divided on the replacements when the transition began in December 2024.

“Of course, it’s better than a minibus,” an internet user said, according to the publication.

Meanwhile, others have questioned the long-term effect on Belarus’s domestic industry.

“Why do we need Chinese buses? To ruin MAZ? So that our Belarusians will be left without work?” a user called tatianashpakovskaia5716 said.

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The country has continued to operate MAZ buses inside the cities. However, the company’s offering ostensibly lacks large-capacity modern coaches, which could be the reason Chinese coaches were chosen for the long-distance route.

While it is still unclear why local companies and authorities have opted against MAZ, the lackluster performance of local products has plagued the Belarusian industry at large, with Chinese manufacturers capturing not only the market but also the local production.

Minsk Motorcycles, a Belarusian motorcycle manufacturer with a history dating back to Soviet times, has become overly reliant on Chinese parts and manufacturing to survive. At present, it relies on foreign designs and produces less than half of its components locally. 

The issue led to a scandal when Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko visited the plant in 2022 and was presented a prototype that was discovered to be a copy of motorcycles made by Chinese original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and sold by foreign brands under different names abroad.

Since 2011, the Belarusian government has also entered into a joint venture with the Chinese carmaker Geely to manufacture Chinese cars in Belarus.