Solaris, VDL, Hess and Beulas Call on EU to Support European Bus Manufacturing

Why It Matters

If adopted, the measures would reshape public‑transport spending, bolster EU industrial capacity and safeguard jobs while supporting the bloc’s climate and competitiveness goals.

Key Takeaways

• Chinese and other third‑country buses hold >30% EU market share
• Manufacturers demand EU “Made in Europe” content rules for public tenders
• Proposed measures include full‑value‑chain local content and procurement preferences
• EU Industrial Accelerator Act may embed origin and carbon‑intensity thresholds from 2029
• UITP backs the “Made in EU” principle, urging gradual framework

Pulse Analysis

The European bus market is at a crossroads as non‑EU manufacturers, led by Chinese firms, have captured more than a third of tendered contracts for zero‑emission vehicles. Their rapid ascent is driven by aggressive export subsidies and lower production costs, which erode the competitiveness of independent European builders such as Beulas, HESS, Solaris and VDL. This shift not only threatens domestic supply chains but also raises concerns about the outflow of public funds to overseas economies, contradicting the EU’s broader industrial sovereignty agenda.

Policymakers are responding with the Industrial Accelerator Act, a legislative package that could embed origin‑based criteria and carbon‑intensity thresholds into public procurement from 2029 onward. By mandating a minimum share of European‑sourced components and rewarding lower‑emission solutions, the Act seeks to create a level playing field while advancing the bloc’s Green Deal objectives. The manufacturers’ letter pushes further, requesting full‑value‑chain local‑content rules, inclusion of bus production among strategic industries, and a review of upcoming Euro 7 and CO2 standards to give European firms realistic development timelines.

If the EU adopts these recommendations, the sector could see a resurgence of investment in domestic R&D, job creation across the supply chain, and a more resilient transport ecosystem less dependent on external subsidies. At the same time, tighter procurement rules may increase short‑term costs for public operators, prompting a debate over the balance between fiscal prudence and strategic industrial policy. Ultimately, the outcome will signal how aggressively the EU will protect its strategic manufacturing base while meeting climate targets.