Solaris, VDL, Hess and Beulas call on EU to support European bus manufacturing
European bus manufacturers Beulas, HESS, Solaris Bus & Coach and VDL Bus Group have called on EU institutions to introduce targeted measures supporting “Made in Europe” content in public bus procurement. In an open letter dated 8 June 2026 and addressed to the President of the European Commission, Commissioners and EU and EFTA leaders, the […]
European bus manufacturers Beulas, HESS, Solaris Bus & Coach and VDL Bus Group have called on EU institutions to introduce targeted measures supporting “Made in Europe” content in public bus procurement.
In an open letter dated 8 June 2026 and addressed to the President of the European Commission, Commissioners and EU and EFTA leaders, the industry players state that independent European bus manufacturers need a level playing field against third-country competition.
Among the measures proposed are local-content requirements covering the entire vehicle value chain, the inclusion of bus manufacturing among strategic industries benefiting from European preference, adjustments to public procurement criteria, a review of CO2 and Euro 7 regulations for buses and coaches, and safeguards for the sector within the EU Automotive Action Plan, the Industrial Accelerator Act and the forthcoming revision of the Public Procurement Framework.
There has been ongoing concern that European taxpayers’ money is transferred outside the Europe and is lost to the European economic ecosystem. At the same time, these companies benefit from state export subsidy in their home country, allowing them to undercut European manufacturers’ prices and creating a severely tilted playing field.
Just a few days ago, the public transport association UITP has published a position paper supporting the principle of European preference while calling for a pragmatic and gradual “Made in EU” framework for the public transport sector.
The publication of UITP’s Position Paper and the manufacturers’ letter comes as the European institutions are discussing the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act, presented by the European Commission in March 2026. The proposal identifies the automotive ecosystem, including buses and heavy-duty vehicles, among the strategic sectors targeted for strengthened industrial capacity within the European Union and introduces procurement provisions linked to origin and carbon-intensity requirements for publicly funded purchases. Under the current proposal, from 2029 publicly funded vehicle procurement contracts would be subject to minimum thresholds related to the origin of materials and production criteria. Discussions on the legislative text are ongoing within the European Parliament and the Council.
European bus manufacturers ask for local content rules
According to the open letter, the European bus manufacturing industry includes small, medium-sized and large companies across EU and EFTA countries, including long-established independent businesses. The signatories write that “a strong manufacturing sector is a prerequisite to achieve European strategic objectives and to ensure a resilient, competitive, and sustainable Europe”.
The letter reads that, focusing on zero emission buses, “for some time now the presence of non-European and especially Chinese competitors has been growing. Their market share has increased rapidly to over 30% and is feared to grow further”. What is more, “Similar trends are starting to emerge in the intercity bus, long-distance and touring coach sectors, where newly-introduced low and zero-emission requirements will affect manufacturers in the same way”.
The letter states that these companies participate in European-funded public tenders with products developed and manufactured outside the EU and EFTA area. The signatories also state that third-country manufacturers benefit from state export subsidies in their domestic markets, allowing them to undercut European manufacturers’ prices.
Bus manufacturing and European preference
The open letter calls on the European Commission to require “Made in Europe” content in public procurement, particularly when tenders are funded by EU taxpayers’ money. The signatories ask for local content requirements based on the vehicle’s whole value chain, including Europe-based research and development.
The manufacturers also call for bus manufacturing to be included among strategic industries requiring European preference. The open letter asks EU institutions to adjust public procurement evaluation criteria, including both direct vehicle procurement and operator concessions or contracts that lead to subsequent vehicle purchases.
The signatories also ask for the EU Automotive Action Plan, the Industrial Accelerator Act and the revision of the Public Procurement Framework to safeguard the European bus manufacturing industry over the long term.
The manufacturers also call for early consultation of independent bus makers on new technical regulations. The open letter asks for upcoming regulatory changes to be reviewed in relation to the capabilities of the sector.
The signatories specifically call for a review of CO2 standards and Euro 7 regulation for buses and coaches, stating that “European independent bus manufacturers are ready to invest but need sufficient time to develop products that can be competitive”.
