The Flemish public transport operator De Lijn is awarding a new framework contract for up to 500 standard electric buses to Daimler Buses Belgium. The investment volume amounts to up to 303 million EUR. At the same time, De Lijn is ordering 268 twelve-metre electric buses from BYD Europe and more than 80 vehicles from Daimler Buses. This order is made possible by a 400 million EUR investment in the fleet by the Flemish Minister for Mobility and Public Works, Annick De Ridder.
De Lijn has set itself the goal of offering fully emission-free public transport by 2035 – the entire bus fleet of more than 2,000 vehicles is to be electrified by then. At the same time, De Lijn aims to make the buses even more attractive and customer-friendly in order to encourage the use of public transport. De Lijn estimates the total cost of the transition between 2023 and 2025 at between 3.9 and 5.2 billion EUR, depending on the scope of the modification work in and around the depots.
The current order comprises more than 80 vehicles from Daimler Buses and 268 electric buses from BYD Europe:
Daimler Buses is ordering Mercedes-Benz eCitaro buses under a new framework agreement for up to 500 vehicles. In this framework contract, awarded by De Lijn’s Board of Directors in November, Daimler achieved the highest score of all bidders. The contract provides for the delivery of up to 500 electric buses. The first vehicles are expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2027.
With the order for 268 buses from BYD Europe, the purchase agreement for 2023 is complete. BYD will ultimately fulfil the entire framework contract for 500 vehicles. Initial operational experience with the e-buses already delivered by BYD Europe has been positive. De Lijn has therefore decided to place a third order. Delivery of these e-buses will take place in several phases starting in the second quarter of 2027.
(Info: De Lijn)
12.12.2025
