There’s another Chinese electric vehicle threat: Buses – POLITICO

There are similar concerns about the bus sector: that China could use the scale of its domestic market — where almost all buses are electric — and its lower production costs to crush European rivals. But for now Brussels is brushing off industry calls for it to examine Chinese bus makers for unfair subsidies.

“Threats to industry competitiveness include fierce global competition, with Chinese bus manufacturers having gained market shares in the EU over a number of years already,” said Thomas Fabian, chief commercial vehicle officer with EU car lobby ACEA.

The industry is changing rapidly thanks to the EU’s decision to ban the sale of CO2-emitting buses by 2035, with a 90 percent interim emissions reduction target in 2030. That’s ramping up the market for non-fossil-fuel buses, and especially e-buses.

City buses are at the forefront of electrification — unlike long-distance coaches, they run on fixed routes, have lower travel distances and can be easily recharged, the International Energy Agency said.

And that’s a sector where Chinese companies are powerful players.

Last year, the Continent’s top 12 manufacturers sold 5,107 e-buses, with almost a third made by China’s Yutong, BYD and BYD’s joint venture with Britain’s Alexander Dennis, and Zhongtong, according to a report by Chatrou CME Solutions.