BYD TO INVEST 20 MILLION EUROS IN BUS ASSEMBLY PLANT IN HUNGARY

BYD, which is fast turning into a well established player in the pure electric bus segment has confirmed that it will be investing 20 million euros in a bus assembly plant named BYD Electric Bus & Truck Hungary Kft in Komárom, a city in the north of Hungary. Eventually, the plant is expected to employ upto 300 people and assemble about 400 vehicles on an annual basis while following a two shift pattern. Initially, electric buses and forklifts will be assembled at the plate and eventually production might be ramped up to include other vehicles as well. The plant is expected to become operational in the in the first quarter of 2017 and a battery test facility and R&D Centre will also be located onsite.

Speaking about the development, Isbrand Ho, BYD Europe’s Managing Director, said that the decision to invest further in the plant highlights BYD’s commitment to the European market. This factory will be the company’s first manufacturing location in Europe and the company is actively scouting for other locations. He said the company chose to locate the new plant in Hungary due to its central location in Europe and its long heritage of engineering excellence and manufacture of buses.

Speaking at the press conference to announce the plans for the plant, the Mayor of Komárom, Attila Molnar thanked BYD for choosing to locate BYD’s first pure electric bus production facility in Europe in his town.

Duan Jielong, the Chinese Ambassador in Hungary said that it was no surprise that BYD is fast increasing its sales of pure electric buses as the age of diesel vehicles comes to an end and emissions free electric buses become more and more popular in markets like France, Netherlands and the UK. BYD has emerged as a Chinese company that is truly a pioneer in the field of new energy vehicles and successfully integrates R&D technology and innovation in the automotive sector. The company is highly focused on realizing its goal of zero emission urban public transportation.

Peter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Hungary expressed his government’s support for the initiative and pointed out that Komárom is the only manufacturing plant outside China besides California and Brazil.