BYD has officially delivered the first batch of 23 pure-electric buses to EMT Palma, the public transportation operator serving Palma, the capital of Mallorca, Spain. Nine of the vehicles have already entered operation across several local bus routes, including Lines 1, 6, 10 and 14. The remaining buses are expected to gradually enter service following registration and commissioning procedures. The delivery forms part of Palma’s broader large-scale public transit electrification program. BYD delivered the first batch of 23 electric buses to EMT Palma As early as March 2025, local authorities formally approved the procurement of 113 ebuses along with supporting charging infrastructure, with the total project budget reaching €117 million ($136 million). According to the plan, the procurement package includes 67 units of 18-meter articulated electric buses and 46 units of 12-meter standard electric buses. In the first batch of 68 tendered vehicles, BYD secured an order for 23 units of the 12-meter standard electric bus model, with a per-unit procurement price of €573,000 ($666,800). That pricing is significantly higher than comparable products in China’s domestic market. Delivery ceromony In China, similar 12-meter electric buses are typically awarded contracts at around RMB 800,000 ($117,700) to RMB 1.2 million ($176,600). European market pricing is generally several times higher. The higher costs reflect not only the vehicles themselves, but also EU certification requirements, local safety regulations, labor expenses, long-term maintenance systems and localization adaptations for regional operations. At the same time, the contract for 34 articulated 18-meter electric buses was awarded to Mercedes-Benz, with unit prices reaching €799,800 ($930,700). Deliveries are expected to begin gradually from June. The delivered BYD buses belong to the Nelec series jointly developed by BYD and Spanish body manufacturer Castrosua. BYD delivered the first batch of 23 electric buses to EMT Palma BYD supplies the electric chassis and core three-electric systems, while Castrosua handles body manufacturing and final vehicle assembly. The vehicles are equipped with lithium iron phosphate Blade Batteries and are specifically optimized for Europe’s high-frequency urban bus operations, including improvements in range, safety and energy efficiency management. According to local government plans, more than half of Palma’s public bus fleet is expected to become electrified by 2027. The project also highlights how European cities are likely to continue generating significant new-energy public transportation procurement demand over the coming years.