The city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province has announced that it began tailoring its bus service recently and has had a good response this year, with two local passenger transport operators – the Heilongjiang Dragon Transportation Group and the Baolutong Co – deciding to tap into the customized transportation business, as well as reservations from more than 60 enterprises and public institutions.

The buses are all air-conditioned and charge about 200 yuan ($30.72) a month, which is higher than traveling by ordinary bus or subway, but less than a taxi. The two companies say that around 20 buses will be run in Harbin every day over various routes, with the number of buses used depending to passenger demand. Baolutong says they can handle individuals as well as groups, and that people can book a seat and make a reservation on Wechat or arrange their route via smart phone.

Passenger transport companies began studying the market and thinking about the service back in early 2015, especially for passengers with similar travel requirements, such as time and destination. These shuttle buses allow passengers to go directly to their destination without changing bus and they are ensured a seat.

This type of service is already successful in some metropolises such as Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen and is being extended to second-tier and third-tier cities.