City council declines financial support for 45 electric buses within the DVB fleet, deeming them outdated.
In a recent meeting of the Dresden city council on September 19, 2025, a debate about the Dresden Verkehrsbetriebe (DVB) and the acquisition of electric buses was at the forefront. The discussion came at a time when Saxon municipal budgets are facing significant deficits, with Dresden needing to save urgently.
The DVB's current fleet includes vehicles that are showing signs of wear, and it is estimated that 22 buses will need to be scrapped soon. However, there is uncertainty about how this can be achieved without causing downtime.
Mayor Dirk Hilbert (FDP) proposed a plan to increase investment funds for the DVB from the current 65 million euros to 100 million euros per year. This additional funding would be used to acquire 45 electric buses, with 23 million euros coming from Saxony.
However, this proposal faced strong opposition from the CDU, FDP/Freie Bürger, Team Zastrow, and AfD factions in the city council. The CDU pointed to the city's debt from construction projects as a reason for their opposition.
The Left faction argued that without new buses, annual maintenance costs of half a million euros would arise. In contrast, the city council rejected taking funds from the city treasury for the electric buses.
The DVB plans to seek a conversation with the city leadership and directly with Mayor Hilbert to discuss the matter further. The deficit in Saxon municipal budgets is currently at 871 million euros, with hundreds of millions more in debt for cities and municipalities across the region.
Culture, sports, and clubs in Dresden may be affected by the savings that need to be made. A video titled "Where can Dresden still save?" is available on the Sachenspiegel website for further information on this topic. The video discusses the record deficit in Saxon cities and municipalities and offers insights into where savings can be found.
The debate about the electric buses and the city's budget is a complex issue that requires careful consideration. As Dresden and other cities in Saxony continue to grapple with their financial challenges, it is essential that solutions are found that balance the need for modern infrastructure with the need to reduce debt and save costs.
