2024-01-05 13:48:00
This Thursday, the company announced that it would acquire 92 electric buses for 43 million euros. A purchase which is part of the desire to electrify the fleet, like other companies. But it is not the vehicle that is being singled out, but rather its manufacturer. This purchase from De Lijn is in fact contracted from the Chinese manufacturer BYD, which as a reminder has just taken Tesla’s position as the largest producer of electric vehicles.
A choice strongly criticized north of the linguistic border. A “shame”, denounced political scientist Jonathan Holslag, China expert. “BYD is a typical case of a company strongly supported by the Chinese government, which leads to a distortion of competition,” he told VRT. “Chinese buses are cheaper to order, but by doing this we are distorting the market.”
“Buying green from China weakens our country,” lamented economist Geert Noels on “The Van Hool electric buses (Belgian manufacturer, Editor’s note) weren’t cheap enough or what? Why doesn’t Flanders promote its own technology?” asks political scientist David Criekemans (University of Antwerp).
Chinese buses, but built in Hungary
These buses should be delivered in 2025, following assembly… in Hungary. Choice also criticized. “There are 3,000 Belgian bus manufacturers ready to provide cutting-edge green technology, but De Lijn once once more decides to have its buses manufactured abroad,” criticizes MP Jos D’Haese (PVDA).
So far, De Lijn has ordered electric vehicles from Van Hool (Belgium), VDL (Netherlands) and Iveco (Italy). The award of the market to BYD therefore marks a turning point. Others should be added to this new Chinese order of 92 vehicles. De Lijn’s framework agreement provides for the possibility of purchasing 500 buses from BYD Europe.
A first in Belgium
If BYD vehicles are strong elsewhere in Europe, this acquisition of electric buses from China is a first in our country. In fact, the Stib in Brussels has a number of brands of electric vehicles, “but no Chinese ones”. Same as Tec. “To date, no attribution to Chinese companies”, they confirm to us in Wallonia.
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