A set of four independent European bus manufacturers have penned an open letter to the European Commission demanding that the EU ensures ‘fair competition’ when it comes to bus tenders for public transport.
The open letter, which is addressed to the EU Commission and its President Ursula von der Leyen, was sent by Solaris, VDL Bus & Coach, Hess and Beulas.
The four manufacturers emphasise that non-European, especially Chinese, bus manufacturers have recently acquired a large portion of the market share within Europe – over 30% – a share that, according to the group, comes at the expense of primarily numerous small, medium-sized and large bus manufacturers across the EU and EFTA countries.
Within the letter, it is stressed that ‘a strong bus manufacturing sector is a prerequisite to achieve European strategic objectives and to ensure a resilient, competitive, and sustainable Europe’, and calls are made to the European Commission to ensure a ‘level playing field’ for the sector to protect against third-country competition that, according to the four manufacturers, threatens expertise, innovation and highly skilled jobs at European bus and coach manufacturers.
The letter states that EU countries are currently leading in zero-emission technology for passenger transport, a position made possible by European goals, regulatory measures such as the Clean Vehicles Directive, and EU financial support instruments.
All four signatories say that there is now ongoing concern that European taxpayers’ money is being transferred outside of Europe and, in doing so, is lost to its economic ecosystem, with money then being combined with state export subsidies from other countries elsewhere, allowing other manufacturers to undercut those working in Europe and skewing ‘the playing field’.
The letter states that a ‘Made in Europe’ label must be required within public procurement proceedings, ‘especially when funded by EU taxpayers’ money’ and evaluation of criteria in public procurement is adjusted to ensure preference for European bus manufacturing.
Finally, the four manufactures cite addressees to ‘consult independent bus manufacturers at early stages on new technical regulations, and review upcoming changes, to ensure better alignment with the capabilities of the sector’, as well as ‘ensure the EU Automotive Action Plan, Industrial Accelerator Act, and the revision of the Public Procurement Framework safeguard the European bus manufacturing industry for the long term’.
