Ljubljana, November 23 (Xinhua) – Creating a “Mobile Business Card” for China Europe Green Cooperation – Visiting the Maribor Factory in Slovenia
The late autumn morning light falls on the TAM European Commercial Vehicle R&D and Manufacturing Company factory located in the outskirts of Maribor, Slovenia, as brand new energy buses slowly exit the factory gate. This is the first batch of hydrogen fuel buses produced by the company, which will be transported to Seoul, South Korea and Vienna, Austria to be put into the local public transportation system, embarking on a “green journey”.
The predecessor of TAM European Commercial Vehicle R&D and Manufacturing Company, Maribor Automobile Factory, was established in 1947 and was a well-known local manufacturer of trucks, trailers, and military vehicles. With market changes and economic transformation, this Slovenian national brand car company has encountered huge challenges and was once in a difficult situation. In 2011, Maribor Automobile Factory declared bankruptcy and was later acquired by a Chinese company and renamed TAM European Commercial Vehicle R&D and Manufacturing Company, while retaining its original trademark. With the injection of Chinese funds and technology, this historic old factory is beginning to rejuvenate.
In 2013, the company resumed production and gradually transitioned to the field of new energy. Nowadays, the TAM brand has become an important force in promoting the green transformation of urban transportation in Europe, with its electric and hydrogen fuel buses active on numerous international airports and city roads.
The 70Mpa low entry city bus powered by hydrogen fuel that was taken offline this time is another masterpiece of TAM’s new energy production line. This model integrates a hydrogen fuel cell system, a hydrogen storage tank, and a power control system, achieving zero emissions throughout the vehicle and only emitting water vapor during operation.
This project marks a significant technological advancement for the company, “said Matte Smerekar, Vice President of the European region.” Fuel cell technology is a truly sustainable way to improve the environment. This project not only showcases TAM’s strong research and development capabilities, but also demonstrates the strength of our innovation cooperation with China
The breakthroughs made in environmental protection and technological upgrading are important reasons for our entry into the high-end European market, “said Ma Fuxiong, CEO of the company.
Li Minghai, Vice President in charge of technology and manufacturing at the company, believes that China has injected strong momentum into this advanced manufacturing project located in the heartland of Europe through strategic investment and resource integration, ensuring efficient operation in every aspect from technology docking, supply chain management to production implementation.
As these hydrogen fuel buses are gradually introduced into the public transportation systems of Seoul and Vienna, they will provide local citizens with a clean and quiet travel experience, and will also become a mobile business card for China Europe green cooperation.