EU Funds Boost Electric Bus Sector Recovery in Spain
The European Union has allocated funds to aid programs for sustainable vehicles, boosting the electric bus sector's recovery post-COVID-19. Meanwhile, the bus sector faces challenges like driver shortages and closures of companies due to financial struggles. However, demand for bus services has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, driven by tourism and fare discounts.
Spain has taken the lead in electric bus registrations, with over 400 sold in the past year, marking a 269.7% growth. This surge is partly due to Confebus' initiative, which will implement a renewal program for the professional passenger vehicle fleet using Spain's own resources. Jaime Rodríguez, Director of Confebus, emphasized the importance of fulfilling the aid announced by Óscar Puente in December 2023. Strong results in the tourism sector and public transportation ticket fare discounts have contributed to this progress. Despite these positive developments, the sector still grapples with a shortage of bus drivers, with 105,000 unfilled positions across Europe. Additionally, financial struggles have led to the closure of about 12% of national bus companies, approximately 400 in total. To address this, a new mechanism is being developed to promote the renewal of the professional road transport fleet using Spain's own funds.
The electric bus sector in Spain has shown remarkable growth, with Spain leading EU registrations. Confebus' initiative and strong tourism results have driven this progress. However, challenges such as driver shortages and company closures persist, requiring further action to ensure the sector's long-term sustainability.
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