According to the political news website Politico.eu, the demand for electric buses in the European Union is gradually expanding to achieve carbon emission reduction targets. Chinese electric vehicle companies have also entered this market, with BYD securing a major contract with a Belgian transportation company, leading to significant losses and bankruptcy for local bus manufacturer Van Hool.
In a report by Politico.eu on May 10th, it was mentioned that 1/5 of electric vehicles sold in Europe last year were from China, and the European Transport & Environment Association (T&E) expects this proportion to increase to 1/4 this year.
However, reports indicate that it is not only the sales of conventional electric cars that are affected in the EU market, but also the electric bus market in Europe is facing repercussions from unfair trade practices by Chinese companies.
With the EU’s decision to ban the sale of carbon dioxide emitting buses by 2035 and achieve a 90% mid-term emissions reduction target by 2030, the electric bus market in Europe is continuously expanding, with Chinese companies gradually entering the market.
A report from the Dutch consultancy Chatrou CME Solutions showed that the top 12 bus manufacturers in Europe sold a total of 5,107 electric buses last year, with nearly 1/3 produced by Chinese companies including Yutong, BYD, and joint ventures between BYD and the UK’s Alexander Dennis and Zhongtong.
BYD secured a contract worth 43 million euros and involving 92 buses from the Belgian transportation company De Lijn in January this year, with additional clauses that will see BYD providing 500 buses to the company in the future, bringing in a net profit of 234 million euros for BYD.
This has had a severe impact on Dutch bus manufacturer VDL Bus & Coach and the local Belgian company Van Hool, with Van Hool declaring bankruptcy last month.
Miel Timmers, spokesperson for VDL, stated that BYD receives significant subsidies from the Chinese government, and to ensure fair competition, VDL has been advocating for EU action for years.
Thomas Fabian, Chief Commercial Vehicles Officer of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), believes that Chinese companies have gained a significant market share in the EU over the years, and policymakers have a responsibility to ensure that electric bus manufacturers can continue to compete in a fair environment.
Some European companies have expressed hope that Brussels will pay attention to the electric bus market and conduct reviews of Chinese companies producing electric vehicles, but as of now, the European Commission has not taken any relevant measures to review the electric bus market.