BYD has been chosen to supply electric buses for Connect Bus in Växjö, Sweden, following the cancellation of an order for 47 Ebusco electric buses. The decision comes after Ebusco failed to deliver the ordered Ebusco 3.0 models by the end of 2023, prompting Connect Bus to seek a new supplier.
Connect Bus CEO Jonas Kempe noted that the company evaluated six alternatives before selecting BYD, citing the latter’s superior combination of product quality and delivery timelines. This change marks a significant shift in the local electric bus landscape.
Ebusco has been experiencing notable challenges, both operationally and in its management structure. Earlier this month, Christian Schreyer was appointed as the new sole CEO, replacing the previous management duo, Peter Bijvelds and Michiel Peters.
Additionally, there have been changes on the Supervisory Board, which align with a newly developed reorganization plan aimed at addressing the company’s current difficulties.
Financially, Ebusco reported an EBITDA loss of €60.7 million in the first half of 2024, a 40% increase compared to the same period in 2023, with a turnover of €38 million, reflecting an 8.8% decline.
Despite having an order backlog of 1,662 buses, only 98 units were delivered from January to June. In response to these challenges, Ebusco has outsourced the assembly of the Ebusco 3.0 model to an external partner in China.
Source: Buss Magasinet
