China has a very large and growing bus industry. During the communist area the number of factories and models was very small and basically limited to the FAW1 and FAW2 group. However, starting in the mid 1980's joint ventures were created with foreign companies and during the 1990's a rapid modernisation and expansion took place, with many new factories set up or becoming independent from the former conglomerates. Chinese vehicle production is controled by the govenment and every brand and/or factory is assigned a two or three letter code. This is also used in model designations which consist of the factory code, followed by the figure 6 (for bus), two figures for the length of the vehicle in decimeteres (for vehicles under 10 meters) or in meters (for vehicles up from 10 meters), one more figure and often several letters denominating the specific model or type. While the factory code, the figure 6 and the two figures for the length ar fixed, the fourth figure and the following letters appear to be assigned at the builders discretion to identify models and types with some letters being seen often for specific vehicle models, i.e. W for a sleeper bus. Both chassis, engine and complete buses recieve model designations this way. Mostly the complete bus model designation is used. As every variation on a basic model (f.e. other gearbox) appears to recieve a different model designation, the number of models is endless. A change in the fourth figure position can designate a completely different model or a variation with no visible difference to a basic model.

The listing to the left contains 200 entries, though some factories produce under different brand names but use the same code while sometimes different factories produce the same brand with the same code.

Many companies produce only smaller midibus models (often Toyota Coaster or similar licences) for the local market. Some 30 brand names can be found on international markets.