De Lijn orders 268 BYD buses and awards a new 500-unit Daimler framework (with a first 80-units order)

Flemish public transport operator De Lijn announces it has awarded a new framework contract to Daimler Buses (for up to 500 standard 12-meter e-buses), while committing to over 340 additional e-buses from Daimler and BYD.

The new framework—valued at up to €303 million—positions Daimler Buses as a primary supplier for De Lijn’s next generation of standard e-buses. Initial call-offs include more than 80 Mercedes eCitaro units, with deliveries scheduled to begin in Q1 2027.

In parallel, De Lijn has executed a 268-bus order with BYD Europe, completing the framework agreement signed in 2023. These units, belonging to the new series B12.b, will be delivered in phases from Q2 2027 onward.

De Lijn concludes framework agreement with BYD

Both orders are enabled by a €400 million rolling-stock “booster” allocated by the Flemish Ministry of Mobility and Public Works earlier this year, support that allows De Lijn to confirm more than 630 e-bus purchases in 2025—including 290 units procured in the spring from BYD, Iveco Bus and VDL.

De Lijn’s electrification programme requires the renewal of an entire fleet of more than 2,000 buses by 2035. The operator’s current tendering cadence reflects a dual goal: accelerating the retirement of legacy diesel units while standardizing specifications across its future electric fleet.

The buses ordered from BYD and Daimler will adopt De Lijn’s updated equipment package. This includes USB charging ports, an electric wheelchair ramp, an upgraded and fully adjustable driver’s cockpit with ventilated and heated seating, side-view camera systems replacing mirrors, and advanced onboard safety systems. The unified spec is part of De Lijn’s strategy to increase service appeal as electrification progresses.

Annick De Ridder, Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works, says: “We are pleased to see that De Lijn, through the new framework agreement, is ensuring the continuity of its greening operation. Thanks to the €400 million ‘turbo’, De Lijn is ordering more than 630 new e-buses this year (the 290 buses already ordered in the spring and the 268 + 80 now), modernising its offering and strengthening its service to its passengers. Think, among other things, of the onboard screens with real-time travel information.”

Ann Schoubs, Director General at De Lijn, states: “Both the BYD e-buses and the vehicles from Daimler or Mercedes will receive the typical De Lijn equipment, which has meanwhile become almost the European standard. USB charging points and an electric ramp for passengers with reduced mobility have been the norm with us for four years already, and you see them increasingly with our colleagues at home and abroad. Our improved driver’s workstation—with a fully adjustable, ventilated and heated driver’s seat, side cameras instead of mirrors, and advanced safety equipment—has also now become widely established.”

Steven Somers, CEO of Daimler Buses Belgium: “With the innovative technology of the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro city bus, its high comfort level, and our focus on sustainability, Daimler Buses Belgium is pleased to contribute to the ambition we share with De Lijn to make mobility and public transport in Flanders future-proof, both for passengers, employees, and for our own living environment.”

Stella Li, BYD’s Executive Vice-President adds: “We are pleased to support De Lijn in its next phase toward a fully emission-free fleet by 2035. Our latest B12.b e-buses make use of our strong R&D capabilities to deliver advanced safety standards, high efficiency in energy consumption, and a clean and quiet experience in electric mobility. Thanks to their high-quality comfort features for both passengers and drivers, these vehicles are designed to help create a more modern and attractive public transport network in Flanders. We look forward to contributing to De Lijn’s long-term electrification strategy and to De Lijn’s contribution to greener mobility in local communities.”