German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has voiced frustration with state-owned rail operator Deutsche Bahn’s procurement strategy after it placed a major order that includes electric buses from Chinese automaker BYD alongside vehicles from domestic manufacturer MAN.

Klingbeil said the decision “annoys” him and urged what he described as “healthy local patriotism” when awarding public contracts, arguing that German or European manufacturers should be favoured when their bids are competitive.

“Our cities have long been operating excellent electric buses, for example from Mercedes and MAN,” Klingbeil, who also serves as vice chancellor, told the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung newspaper.

His comments came a week after Deutsche Bahn announced the largest bus order in its history. Under the deal, Munich-based MAN will supply the bulk of more than 3,300 hybrid and electric buses.

However, Deutsche Bahn also ordered 200 electric intercity buses from BYD. Although the vehicles will be produced in Hungary, the inclusion of the Chinese automaker in the contract has drawn political scrutiny, according to public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk.

The procurement decision highlights growing debate in Germany and across Europe over balancing open competition with efforts to support domestic industry amid intensifying global competition, particularly from Chinese manufacturers.