Korean Media: China’s Electric Buses Dominate Europe After Sweeping Domestic Market
On October 9, South Korean media outlet Digital Times published an article noting that, among newly sold urban buses in Europe, six out of every ten are now electric vehicles, signaling a rapid acceleration in the electrification of public transportation. In this context, Chinese manufacturers are swiftly gaining dominant market share in Europe, surpassing local automakers through competitive pricing and established local production networks.
Data from the International Council on Clean Transportation indicates that 6,425 new zero-emission vehicles were registered in the EU during the first half of this year—an increase of approximately 50% compared to 4,295 registrations in the same period last year.
As a result, the share of zero-emission vehicles in the overall bus market has risen. In the first half of this year, zero-emission buses accounted for 28.6% of all newly registered buses in the EU, up from 22.7% in the same period last year—a rise of 5.9 percentage points.
Notably, the electrification of urban buses is progressing rapidly. In the second quarter of this year, electric buses made up more than 60% of newly registered urban buses across the EU.
Urban buses have inherent advantages for electrification due to their fixed routes and ability to recharge at depots after daily operations. According to the International Energy Agency, the average range of currently available battery-electric buses is about 360 kilometers, sufficient to cover the typical daily operating distance of 150 to 300 kilometers for city buses. In contrast, the electrification of intercity and long-distance buses—some of which operate up to 800 kilometers per day—has advanced more slowly.
Even in Europe, a region historically proud of its automotive industry, Chinese firms have achieved striking market penetration. In the first quarter of this year, Yutong Bus ranked first among manufacturers in the EU’s zero-emission urban bus market, capturing around 15% of new vehicle registrations. Solaris of Poland followed closely, while MAN held over 10% market share. BYD accounted for approximately 6%, and King Long around 5%.
The competitive edge of Chinese manufacturers stems largely from their vast domestic market.
According to the International Energy Agency, global sales of electric buses reached about 70,000 units last year—a 12% year-on-year increase—with roughly 60% of those sales originating in China. Within China, electric buses already represent over 60% of total bus sales.
Chinese companies are now expanding beyond domestic borders. Their market dominance extends not only to Europe but also to Latin America.
As of 2024, Chinese manufacturers supply approximately 85% of the electric bus market in Latin America, with BYD, Foton, Yutong, and Zhongtong leading the sector.
China has also secured significant orders in Central Asia. In early 2023, Uzbekistan signed a contract to purchase 2,000 BYD buses. In the Middle East, after participating in Qatar’s public transport electrification project, Yutong is now exploring local production of electric buses in the country.
In recent years, Chinese firms have expanded domestic manufacturing capacity to circumvent global trade barriers. BYD has been producing electric buses for the European market since 2017 at its factory in Komárom, Hungary.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1878561073275968/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.