Statement BYD Europe about IJssel-Vecht concession

BYD Europe B.V. (BYD) has taken note of the fact that the Province of Overijssel (also on behalf of the Province of Gelderland and the Province of Flevoland) may be withdrawing the concession granted to Keolis Nederland B.V. (Keolis) for public transport in the IJssel-Vecht region.

As a supplier to Keolis of 259 BYD buses under this concession, BYD is providing its products and services precisely as requested by Keolis and in an honest and transparent manner: electric, environmentally friendly buses that provide a high-quality public transport solution for the passengers in the region, and this is being done in a timely manner according to an agreed and committed delivery schedule, even in the context of the challenging circumstances faced in 2020.

With the BYD electric bus fleet, the concession will become the largest CO₂ reduction contributor amongst all current public transport concessions in the Netherlands and in Europe.

It would be concerning, and BYD Europe would deeply regret, if indeed the concession were withdrawn. The BYD fleet would contribute immediately to the sustainability goals as prevailing in the Netherlands, and neither the passengers in the region nor the broader public should be adversely affected as a result of the withdrawal.

The contract with Keolis is a landmark transaction in BYD’s business development in Europe since the start of its operations in the Netherlands 22 years ago. It is the consequence of BYD Europe’s continued strategic focus on the electrical bus market in the Netherlands and in Europe, where BYD already is the trusted partner for a significant number of concession holders.

Since the start of its operations, BYD Europe has grown to employ more than 120 staff in the Netherlands and a further 300 employees operating in its production facilities in France and Hungary.

With Rotterdam serving as its base for European operations, BYD Europe B.V. is part of the BYD Group; a Shenzhen based privately-owned company listed both in the Hong Kong and Shenzhen stock exchanges, having Berkshire Hathaway among its reference shareholders.

PR Contact
Penny Peng, Marketing and PR Director, BYD Europe, penny.peng@byd.com
Dick Braakhekke, PR Representative in the Netherlands, dick@braakhekkepr.nl