In a surprising shift in public procurement, the cost of electric school buses in Iași has seen a sudden decline, though the timing raises more questions than it answers. After three failed attempts to expand its fleet, the Iași County Council is now processing a bid for five additional electric vehicles with a total budget of 3.44 million lei—a stark contrast to previous acquisitions where individual vehicles cost upwards of one million lei.
This development comes as the Romanian government grapples with a wider scandal involving the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). Although the local administration claims the recent pricing reflects a more sustainable approach, critics and investigators suggest it is a reaction to mounting pressure from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), which is currently scrutinizing the potential overvaluation of electric transport across multiple counties. The fact that s-au ieftinit brusc microbuzele școlare electrice in this specific tender is viewed by many as a strategic pivot by the sole bidder, Aveuro International SRL.
The new tender is designed to support students in five different communes, prioritized based on the number of social scholarships awarded. The technical requirements remain stringent: each vehicle must accommodate 16 passengers, maintain a minimum autonomy of 200 km and include a battery warranty of at least four years. The winning contractor is expected to deliver the fleet within 45 days.
The Math of a National Miscalculation
The current price drop in Iași is a little chapter in a much larger narrative of alleged fiscal mismanagement. Under the PNRR, Romania was allocated 250 million euros to modernize student transport. The original objective was ambitious: the purchase of 3,200 electric microbuses at an average estimated cost of 78,000 euros per unit.
But, the reality of the rollout told a different story. Instead of the planned 3,200 vehicles, the state managed to acquire only 1,300. This discrepancy was driven by a massive spike in unit prices, with some vehicles being sold to the state for approximately 200,000 euros—nearly three times the initial estimate. This pricing gap effectively slashed the number of children who could benefit from the green transition in school transport.
| Metric | Original PNRR Target | Actual Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Total Budget | 250 Million Euros | ~250 Million Euros |
| Units Planned | 3,200 Microbuses | 1,300 Microbuses |
| Avg. Unit Cost | ~78,000 Euros | ~200,000 Euros |
A Monopoly on Public Tenders
The central figure in these transactions is Aveuro International SRL, a firm based in Prahova. Data suggests a troubling pattern in the bidding process: Aveuro secured contracts in roughly 60% of Romania’s counties. More concerning is the lack of competition; in 90% of these tenders, Aveuro was the only bidder whose offer was deemed admissible, while other competitors were systematically rejected.
The pricing discrepancy is particularly glaring when compared to market rates. Industry analysis indicates that similar electric vans, such as the Ford E-Transit, typically retail for around 64,500 euros, reaching a maximum of 70,000 euros with optional extras (excluding VAT). Despite selling vehicles for 200,000 euros, the company’s leadership has remained unapologetic. When questioned about the immense profit margins—estimated at 100,000 euros per vehicle—company owner Vlad Mircea Papuc responded with a brief, “God help us! I do not comment on the price.”
Expansion Beyond Iași
The pattern was not limited to the east. In Bihor County, under the leadership of Ilie Bolojan, a similar procurement process unfolded. Initial projections for 25 electric microbuses were set at over 30 million lei. While the final contract signed in February 2025 was slightly lower at 22.8 million lei (excluding VAT), the unit price remained around 218,000 euros—far exceeding the benchmarks set by European Union standards.
The Architecture of Influence
The financial trajectory of Aveuro International SRL reflects a meteoric rise. The company reported a net profit of 68.7 million lei last year, representing a 1,462% increase compared to 2023. Total turnover climbed to 255.6 million lei. This capital surge has allowed the company to diversify rapidly, including the 8-million-euro acquisition of the iconic Eva store on Magheru Boulevard in Bucharest.
Critics point to the company’s political ties as a catalyst for its success. Vlad Mircea Papuc’s mother serves as the head of the PNL Women’s Organization in Prahova and is reportedly close to Iulian Dumitrescu, a political figure currently under investigation for corruption. This network of influence has cast a shadow over the legitimacy of the “single-bidder” tenders that have dominated the electric bus rollout.
Beyond transport, the company’s history of state contracting includes the sale of face masks, gloves, and disinfectants during the height of the pandemic, further establishing its role as a primary beneficiary of emergency and recovery funding.
The focus now shifts to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. The ongoing investigation into the PNRR funds is expected to determine whether the overpricing was a result of market volatility or a coordinated effort to siphon public funds. As the EPPO examines the paper trail between the County Councils and Aveuro International, the sudden price drop in Iași may be viewed not as a windfall for taxpayers, but as a belated attempt to mitigate legal risk.
The next critical milestone will be the release of the EPPO’s findings regarding the admissibility of the initial PNRR tenders and whether the Romanian state will seek restitution for the overpaid contracts.
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