Electric city buses from China are running in more and more places in the Netherlands. Files such as BYD and Yutong have built up a substantial market share, which will continue to grow in the coming years. Politicians are concerned about espionage and risks for national security.
The rise of the electric car from China is a lot loose throughout Europe. The European car industry fears being wiped away by cheap import cars from China. The European Commission has introduced import duties because the Chinese manufacturers benefit from state aid.
The number of Chinese cars in the Netherlands is now limited: there are several tens of thousands in a fleet of 10 million. In the meantime, Chinese bus manufacturers have built up a much larger market share, while European manufacturers are struggling.
Bus transport has been electrified at lightning speed in the Netherlands: of the 5,900 line buses there are already around 2,000 electricity, says Statistics Agency CBS. And of those electric buses, almost 20 percent is Chinese, according to figures that Nu.nl has collected. More than half of the IJssel-Vecht region, where more than 200 buses from the BYD brand have been deployed since 2021.
Carriers who have won a tender to take care of bus transport in a certain region will increasingly opt for Chinese buses in the coming years. For example, OV company Keolis will use no fewer than 254 buses from the Yutong brand in the province of Utrecht. Dozens of Chinese buses will also run in the South Holland-Noord, Haaglanden, Groningen and Zeeland regions.
Of all the city buses that are on order throughout the country, more than half of a Chinese brand, according to announcements from bus manufacturers and carriers. As a result, in 2028 almost one in three electric buses in our country will be Chinese.
Dutch manufacturers do not deliver on time
According to the public transport companies involved, the Chinese buses are of good quality and can be delivered in time. In Utrecht, Yutong was the only brand that could fully meet the requirements that the province had set for the required buses of 15 meters long, says a spokesperson for Keolis.
In Zeeland, EBS opts for BYD buses when it takes over bus transport in 2027. In other regions, the company ordered electric buses from the Dutch manufacturers VDL and Ebusco, but they were delivered too late. “Dutch and beautiful buses, but not fulfilling the agreed delivery date was painful,” says a spokesperson for EBS. Qbuzz also says that the punctual delivery of buses by Yutong is an important plus.
According to Henry Steenbergen, Director of Transport and Mobility at Rabobank, the success of the Chinese bus manufacturers is easy to explain: “It is unmistakable that the Chinese are better in electric than we are.” That is why European bus manufacturers also depend on battery packages from China. “You have to wonder how European bus actually is.”
Political worries about espionage and sabotage
In the Lower House, CDA MP Derk Boswijk asked last year for an investigation into the safety risks of electric cars from China. This showed that “there is a certain degree of risk in terms of espionage and sabotage,” wrote then Minister Barry Madlener of Infrastructure & Water Management in March.
Details are not published because they relate to national security. The authorities involved, including various ministries, the AIVD, RDW and the Dutch Data Protection Authority, are still conducting follow -up investigations. In addition, they also look specifically at Chinese buses and trucks. The results are expected at the end of this year, says the ministry.
Local politicians are also concerned about the advance of the Chinese city bus. In various regions, the purchase of Chinese buses led to advice or states questions. For example, the Utrecht VVD is concerned about digital espionage by the Chinese government and violation of human rights in the production of the Yutong buses.
The Utrecht College of Provincial Executive says it shares the concerns about cyber security. But because the on -bus computers are installed in the buses by Keolis himself and are of European origin, according to the province, no data can leak to China. Moreover, the batteries would not be produced in the Chinese province of Xinjiang, where there is forced labor.
Council members Almere want to exclude Chinese manufacturers
Also in Almere a broad coalition of council fractions has been delivered about the possibility that Chinese buses will soon be driving through the city. With a motion, they therefore called on Chinese manufacturers to exclude in the tender that is currently running.
That is not legally possible, says GroenLinks alderman Micha Mos to Nu.nl. But the municipality does set additional requirements in the tender, such as respect for human rights in the production of buses and extraction of the required raw materials. The company that wins the tender must be transparent about that.
“We are proud that we are the first to do that,” says Mos. “We think that setting solid conditions in the field of production and labor could lead to you buying European.”
‘Battle already lost’
Steenbergen from Rabobank wonders whether that measure will be effective. “We have almost lost this battle,” he says about China’s dominance. “If that Chinese bus turns out to be better, has a better range and is also cheaper, then it is a very difficult assessment.”
According to him, it can still be considered whether the European bus manufacturers can keep up with competition from China. “We were very good at those diesels, but we are no longer waiting for that.”
Electric City Buses from China Are Running in More and More Places in the Netherlands. Manufacturers Such as byd and yutong have Quietly Built up a Substantial Market Share, which will Continue to grow in the Coming Years. Politicians are concerned about Espionage and Risks to National Security.
The Rise of the Electric Car From China is Causing a Stir Throughhout Europe. The European Car Industry Fears Being Wiped Out By Cheap Imports From China. The European Commission HAS Introduced Import Duties because Chinese manufacturers Benefit from State Aid.
The Number of Chinese cars in the Netherlands is now limited: there are only a few tens of thousands on a fleet or 10 million. Meanwhile, Chinese bus manufacturers have build up a much larger market share, while European manufacturers are struggling.
Bus transport in The Netherlands Has Been Electrified at Lightning Speed: Or the 5,900 Scheduled Buses, Around 2,000 are Already Electric, Accordance to Statistics Bureau CBS. And Almost 20 percent of Those Electric Buses Are Chinese, Accordination to Figures Collected by NU.nl. More than Half Run in the IJssel-Vecht Region, where more than 200 buses of the byd brand have leg deployed Since 2021.
Carriers That Have Won a Tender to Provide Bus Transport in a Specific Region Are Increasingly Opting for Chinese Buses in the Coming Years. For Example, Public Transport Company Keolis Will Deploy No Fewer than 254 Buses of the Yutong Brand in the Province of Utrecht. Boxes of Chinese Buses Will Soon also be running in the Regions of South Holland North, Haaglanden, Groningen and Zeeland.
Or all the city buses that are on order through the country, more than half are or a chinese brand, accordance to announcements from bus manufacturers and carriers. As a result, almost one in three electric buses in our country will be chinese by 2028.
Dutch Manufacturers do not deliver on time
Accordance to the public transport companies Involved, The Chinese Buses Are of Good Quality and Can Be Delivered on Time. In Utrecht, Yutong was the only brand that could full of meet the requirements that the province had set for the required 15-meter long buses, Says a Spokesperson for Keolis.
In Zeeland, EBS, Opting for Buses from BYD WEM IT TAKES ART BUS Transport in 2027. In Other Regions, The Company Ordered Electric Buses from the Dutch Manufacturers VDL and EBUSCO, But they were Delivered Too Late. “Indeed Dutch and Beautiful BUSES, But the Failure to Meet the Agreed Delivery Date was Painful,” Says a Spokesperson for EBS. Qbuzz also says that the punctual delivery of buses by yutong is an important advantage.
Accordance to Henry Steenbergen, Director of Transport and Mobility at Rabobank, The Success of the Chinese Bus Manufacturers is Easy to Explain: “It is undeniable that the Chinese are better at electric than we are.” That is why European bus manufacturers are also Dependent on battery packs from China. “You have to ask yourself how European Such A European Bus is actual.”
Political groups about Espionage and Sabotage
In the house of representatives, CDA Member of Parliament Derk Boswijk Requested an Investigation Last Year Into the Security Risks of Electric Cars From China. This showed that “there is a certain degree of risk in the area of Espionage and Sabotage,” wrote then Minister Barry Madlener of Infrastructure & Water Management in March.
Details have not leg published because they are relate to national security. The Relevant Authorities, Including Various Ministries, The AIVD, RDW and the Data Protection Authority, Are Conducting Further Research. They are also looking specifically at Chinese buses and trucks. The results are expected by the end of this year, the ministry says.
Local Politicians are also concerned about the rise of the Chinese city bus. In Various Regions, The Purchase of Chinese Buses LED to Council or State Questions. For Example, The Utrecht VVD is Concerned about Digital Espionage by the Chinese Government and Human Rights Violations in the Production of the Yutong Buses.
The Utrecht Provincial Executive Says It Shares The Concerns About Cyber Security. However, because the on-board computers in the buses are installed by Keolis itself and are of European Origin, The Province believes that no data can leak to China. In Addition, The Batteries would not be produced in The Chinese Province of Xinjiang, where there is forced labor.
Councilors Almere Want To Exclude Chinese Manufacturers
In Almere, Too, A Broad Coalition of Council Factions, Concerned About the Possibility that Chinese Buses Will Soon Be Driving Through The City is. With a motion, They Therefore Called for Chinese Manufacturers to Be Excluded From The Tender That Is Currently Underway.
That is not legal Possible, Says GroenLinks Alderman Micha Mos to Nu.nl. However, the Municipality Does Set Extra Requirements in the Tender, Such as Respect for Human Rights in the Production of Buses and the Extraction of the Necessary RAW Materials. The Company That Wins The Tender Must Be Transparent About this.
“We are proud that we are the first to do this,” Says Mos. “We think that setting strict conditions in the area of production and labor could well lead to you buying European.”
‘Battle Already Lost’
Steenbergen from Rabobank Wonders WHETER that Measure Will Be Effective. “We have actual Almost Lost This Battle,” He says about China’s Dominance. “If that chinese bus turns out to be better, has a better range and is also cheaper, then it is a very diffcoming consultation.”
Accordance to him, it remains to be so -whether the European bus manufacturers can keep up with the competition from China. “We were very good at those diesels, but we are no longer waiting for that.”