A branch of the Škoda group, Škoda Transtech, has submitted a formal complaint, which is now in the hands of the Finnish Market court, regarding a decision to omit them from the tram tender for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.

This decision to exclude Škoda Transtech from the tram tender was announced by Helsinki Metropolitan Area Urban Transport Ltd. (Pääkaupunkiseudun Kaupunkiliikenne Oy) on the 6th October 2025.

As a result, the only other company in the tender process, Stadler Polska, was awarded the tender without any competition from other manufacturing companies. In a move that is seen by Škoda Transtech as “in breach of fair and transparent competition principles“, while also saying that their exclusion by Helsinki Metropolitan Area Transport was “discriminatory“.

Helsinki Metropolitan Area Transport outlined three key areas why they excluded Škoda Transtech from the tram tender submission process. There have been delays relating to previous contracts with Škoda Transtech regarding previous projects. Helsinki Metropolitan Area Transport accuse members of Škoda Transtech of undue influence during the early stages of the tender process, and not being compliant with the technical requirements of the project.

Škoda Transtech responded by saying that any delays to previous contracts are not grounds for exclusion by local law when tendering for new projects, that any claims of undue influence are false, and that it is “fully compliant” when it comes to mandatory technical requirements.

Škoda Transtech believe that they have been excluded from the Tram tender so that the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Transport can avoid the need to evaluate between what were just two tender offers. They also believe that their overall cost for the project was lower than Stadler Polska’s offer, after an approval by the Helsinki and Vantaa councils to increase the budget allocated to the project, suiting the Stadler Polska offer.

The decision on whether Helsinki Metropolitan Area Transport excluded Škoda Transtech’s offer from the tram tender was lawful or not will be made by the Finnish Market Court in due course.

“We strongly believe that every tender should be truly competitive – allowing the customer to compare key factors such as price, life-cycle costs and the overall value of the offer and ability to deliver on time. The decision to exclude one offer at the very end of a two years’ tender procedure, without having a chance to be evaluated, does not fulfil basic principles of equality and fairness and completely distorts competition”.

“Our Finnish company, Škoda Transtech, has a long and proud history of developing and manufacturing trams in Finland, and we remain committed to contributing to sustainable public transport in the Nordic region.”

Petr Novotný, CEO of Škoda Group