Zurich buys Chinese Yutong buses for the first time

Zurich's public transport company has bought buses of Chinese manufacture. It is the first major Swiss public operator to do so.

The order covers eight standard 12-metre buses from the manufacturer Yutong, purchased through its French subsidiary. To these are added twelve articulated 18.5-metre vehicles supplied by Daimler Buses Switzerland. The contract includes options for up to eighty additional vehicles, forty from each manufacturer. Entry into service is planned for the summer of 2027.

How the tender was decided

In assessing the bids, price counted for less than half of the criteria. Quality, delivery times and sustainability proved decisive.

Yutong obtained the maximum score on price and good to excellent ratings for delivery times and service organisation.

The company's deputy director, Andreas Uhl, explained the choice by pointing to dissatisfaction with the established manufacturers. The previous suppliers, Hess and MAN, had shown defects and delivery difficulties.

The case shows how a public tender can penalise long-standing suppliers when criteria other than price, particularly reliability of delivery, are assessed on the basis of past experience.

The operator has put specific measures in place for the Chinese vehicles. Software updates are carried out via a USB stick rather than over remote connections. Backup systems are available in case of problems. A review is also planned, entrusted to specialists tasked with attempting controlled intrusions.

The purchase forms part of the plan to electrify the entire city fleet of 250 vehicles, adopted to cut greenhouse gas emissions and noise in line with the city's climate goals.