The order for electric buses from China by Flemish public transport company De Lijn represents "a particularly problematic signal", said Pieter Timmermans, managing director of the Federation of Enterprises in Belgium (FEB), on Friday.
De Lijn announced last Thursday that it had ordered 92 electric buses from Chinese manufacturer BYD. The order, which represents an investment of more than €43 million, follows the award by De Lijn's Board of Directors of a new framework agreement for the purchase of up to 500 standard electric buses from BYD Europe.
This decision was strongly criticised in Flanders, particularly by bus manufacturers Van Hool and VDL, who had already produced vehicles for De Lijn in the past.
Hans Vaneerdewegh, General Secretary of the socialist trade union ABVV, expressed his "deep disappointment" over this decision on VRT radio on Friday. He emphasised ongoing problems with repairing vehicles made in China, their sub-par quality, and the costs associated with making overseas orders.
In response to this criticism, Mr Timmermans stressed that Belgian bus manufacturers deserved to be supported because of the quality of their work. However, he felt that De Lijn could not be criticised for applying European public procurement rules, and that the transport company "finds itself in a straitjacket".
"A framework is needed so that Belgian companies can compete with countries such as China", concludes the CEO, who also believes that European rules should be updated.
