Highlights of the Busworld Europe 2025 Congress

With 1,242 industry stakeholders sharing insights with 22 representatives of the European Commission, in the 39 sessions, the Busworld congress is profiling itself more and more as a direct conversation between OEMs, suppliers, PTOs, PTAs and policy makers. 

“The overwhelming success of this congress is directly related to the strength of the consortium who organized it. My special thanks go all the members in the congress’ steering committee. This group ensured the current relevance of the topics for the daily work of PTAs, PTOs, and OEMs… and for the policymakers.

All sessions emphasized the strong links between regulations, the state of the technology, and the socio-economic situation in the industry. This will certainly remain the leitmotiv for future congresses.” , said Jan Deman, Director of the Busworld Foundation.

THE CONGRESS’ CONCLUSIONS

The socio-economic status of the EU bus and coach industry

By 2030, over 60% of all buses and coaches on European roads will be zero emission, predicts Frost & Sullivan. Thomas Geier (EMTA), Per Skallefell (EY) and (Mickael Tauvel) AdL conclude that this has and will request adapted tendering strategies, as well in the purchase for the vehicles as in the collaborations between PTAs and PTOs. Which as a consequence results in the search for adequate financing strategies for public transport. Several cases coming from EMT Madrid, Transport for London, illustrated the above.

Meanwhile, 27% of the new sold ZE-buses in Europe are “Chinese”. In the opening session, the Automotive Action Plan from the EC - explained by Axel Volkery (EC-DG MOVE) - tries to create a more levelled playing field. The industry is asking for stronger incentives for EU-OEMs rather than protectionist measures.

The driver shortage is not as bad as it was two years ago, but it remains a priority in daily operations. Jean-Louis Colson (EU-DG MOVE) referred to several legislative initiatives in this field, while Claire Depré (EU-DG MOVE) stressed the need for adapted formats of training programs. The planned evaluation of the EU regulations will take the conclusions of the sessions on driver shortage and training in regard.

Safety and security

The preparations for the evaluation of the General Safety Regulation 2 (in 2027) was kicked off by the Norwegian Minister for Transport, Mr. Jon-Ivar Nygard. “Re-thinking how to decrease the impact of frontal collisions, especially for the drivers, should be inspired by measures already applied in trucks”, stated the minister. Overall safety can further be improved by making certain advanced driver assistance systems mandatory, other optional, and these choices are not absolutely the same in buses and in coaches.

For the first time in the Busworld congress, the item of “security” was brought to the attention by Jan Politiek (Arriva) and Lisa-Marie Cole (Transport for London). Measures in the context anti-terrorism and cyber-security should be based on training of staff, the right tools and cooperations.

Operations > 300km and coach tourism

Prof. Nina Nesterova (University of Breda) illustrates the changes in tourism that are to be expected, not at least related to digitalization and climate change. Coach tourism, as a consequence should adapt and take the opportunities related to this process. 

The decarbonization of long-distance bus and coach operations is yet to start. The offer of ZE-coaches was one of the highlights of the Busworld exhibition, which means that the industry is ready; however refueling and charging infrastructure is not. 

“The tachograph as a technology for the control and enforcement of the drive and rest time regulations, has come to its last period”, says Erik Busser (TLN). Innovative data sharing methods will allow more efficient and easier procedures.

Access to the cities for coaches and long distance bus services remains a political hot topic. The Global Passenger Network requests a harmonized regulatory framework, which considers the benefits of collective transport modes and guarantees high quality services.

Coach design has not adapted enough in the last years. “We should be looking more to comfort offered by design in aviation and trains.”, says Jean-Pierre Geelen (Yellow Window). 

Digital mobility solutions

“The European Mobility Data Space (EMDS), based on efficient gathering & sharing of vehicle generated data, is crucial for the comfort, safety and sustainability of road transport.”, stated Joost Vantomme (ERTICO/ITS-Europe). The discussion on who owns the vehicle generated data is a threat for the competitive position of bus and coach services in comparison to other road users. The need for standardization of this data (sharing) is mentioned by Anders Selling (ITxPT). It should result in friendlier procedures for law enforcement and be the fundament of intelligent transport systems and successful implementation of autonomous buses.

Real time data availability is now a conditio sine qua non for optimal battery and energy management and for integral OPEX-reduction in bus companies.

The energy transition

The European Zero Emission Bus Conference landed for the second time in the Busworld Congress. “The vehicles have been ready since quite a while now...” agreed all manufacturers. Focus is now on the energy management. “The need for adequate software connecting all aspects in the energy provision and management, including the planning tools, and allowing the use of different brands of vehicles and charging infrastructure continues to exist.”, says Jérôme Sahuc (RATP). For long distance operations, the outroll of opportunity charging & refueling (referring to the AFIR regulation), the availability and cost of (green) hydrogen and the evolutions in battery chemistry remain essential.

The evaluation of the adequacy of the contracts with electricity suppliers is often neglected (prof. Lieven Vandevelde – University of Ghent). Buy-or-lease decisions for the entire charging process, or the outsourcing of it, remain important choices, while we see an increasing number of service providers in this field. 

The lack in the offer for insurance related to the charging of electric buses in the depots is a real problem for the operators. Insurance providers should be better aware of technologies in battery monitoring, to come to more realistic offers.

Circularity in the bus and coach industry

In a closed meeting, organized by the Busworld Foundation in collaboration with CENEX, the matter of circularity in the bus and coach industry was discussed. Participants were 5 bus and coach manufacturers (Iveco, Scania, Daimler, Solaris and Skoda-group), 3 PTAs and 3 PTOs (TfL, EMT Madrid, Vervoerregio Amsterdam, Arriva, Transdev and Keolis). The goal of this initiative is to prepare a concept note addressed to the European Commission, on the industry’s vision on how to come to circularity in both bus manufacturing and bus operations.

Mark Westendorp (Daimler) stated that most of the OEMs are already compliant with EU regulations, although it would be advisable to come to a better definition of “circularity”. It cannot only be “second life”. Johanna Solomonsson Lind (Scania) pledged for realism in the speed of setting new targets, referring to the strong efforts the industry is making to realize the energy transition. The PTOs referred to the need for a realistic view on consequences for their investments.

It was decided that, based on the meeting’s report, a whitepaper stating the vision of the entire industry, will be prepared.

Would you like to be involved in the preparations of the Busworld Europe 2027 Congress?

The Busworld Europe 2027 Congress will take place in Brussels from October 18th till 21st.  Preparations are already starting, with the constitution of the steering committee and the advisory boards.

If you are interested in being part of the organizing consortium, please contact us via the link below.

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