Minister Peters (Open Vld): “De Lijn will order new electric buses before the summer” | local

Earlier this year, De Lijn ordered 92 buses from Chinese company BYD, sparking controversy. After all, the Belgian manufacturer Van Hool is in dire straits and has taken a new hit with demand from its competitor. The special labor council will be held on March 11.

The transport company also has a framework contract with the Belgian company Van Hool and the Dutch company VDL, which also produces in Belgium, for a total of 350 electric buses. Of this amount, 60 percent is made by Van Hool and 40 percent by VDL. Within the framework of this contract, as of 2021, 60 buses have already been purchased.

“Now that there is also a framework contract with BYD, De Lijn has three potential suppliers,” Peters said on Thursday. “The company still needs a lot of buses and wants to order some before the summer. It is not yet known on what framework contract this will be done. The Board of Directors is looking at needs and budgets.

According to Stijn Bex, the potential matter will be part of the discussions Flanders is currently having with Van Hool. The Council of Ministers may decide to provide additional support tomorrow/Friday, but the ministers concerned do not want to expect that Thursday.

“I hope to know as soon as possible whether Van Hool and VDL can deliver and what the delivery period is,” Peters said in Parliament. “A lot will depend on that.”

“We are counting on you, as guardian minister, to ensure that De Lijn gives the Belgian bus manufacturers every opportunity to provide this supply,” Stijn Bex replied. “And this price cannot be the only determining criterion.”