Dutch public transport operator Qbuzz has ordered 62 more electric buses from Chinese manufacturer Yutong, to be delivered by the end of 2025. This follows their previous order of 50 Yutong buses, which entered service in South Holland in December 2024.
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| Qbuzz |
Why Yutong? Timing is Everything
While many European manufacturers are still wrangling with post-pandemic supply chains, inflation and the occasional bankruptcy, Yutong appears to be sticking to the basics: building and delivering buses on time.
In a pointed but measured statement, Qbuzz explained their decision to look beyond Europe:
"European bus manufacturers face challenges in the delivery of zero-emission equipment. For example, in addition to the delivery problems of Iveco, Qbuzz also had to deal with the bankruptcy of Belgian bus manufacturer Van Hool, which meant that the delivery of 112 electric buses was cancelled. As a solution, Yutong produced and delivered 50 electric buses within six months, which perform well both technically and operationally."
In other words, when the Europeans faltered, Yutong delivered – literally and figuratively.
Passenger Approval & Plaudits from Management
The performance of Yutong's initial batch seems to have been met with quiet satisfaction among both drivers and the travelling public – groups not known for unprompted praise. According to Qbuzz general manager Annemarie Zuidberg:
“An extraordinary achievement by a reliable, international supplier of high-quality zero-emission buses.”
Not something you often hear in the same breath as “delivered on time.”
A Practical, Not Political, Decision
Qbuzz is owned by Italian state rail operator Ferrovie dello Stato, which gives them a bit of operational clout – and perhaps a touch more independence when it comes to purchasing decisions. They describe their approach to decarbonisation as grounded in “realism” and “market conditions”, which is another way of saying that the energy transition won’t be won on idealism alone.
“Successfully changing to completely emission-free public transport requires a realistic view, cooperation and willingness to act according to market conditions.”
In the UK, where similar transition efforts have met repeated delays and patchy rollouts, this kind of plain speaking might ring a few bells.
Final Word
The choice of Yutong may raise eyebrows among the Euro-centric, but Qbuzz is not in this for appearances. They are in it to move people reliably with clean energy – and for now, it seems, that means putting trust in Chinese buses that turn up when promised. It is a lesson other operators may soon need to learn: sometimes the most sustainable solution is simply the one that arrives on time.
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