Chinese vehicle giant BYD opens its first European electric bus factory

Representatives of the company and the Hungarian government officiated the grand opening ceremony at the 66,000-square-meter complex. Production at the 20 million euro ($21 million) plant is scheduled to begin within days, according to BYD.

The plant currently employs 32 people but BYD plans to create 300 jobs, mostly for Hungarians.Isbrand Ho, managing director of BYD Europe, said the company was looking to buy more land to expand the plant and increase the number of employees to 600. The factory will produce 200 buses per year in its initial stage and the number could rise to 400. The vehicles will be sold and exported to customers throughout Europe.

During the ceremony, Ho explained why BYD chose the Hungarian location. "Firstly, the Hungarian government has shown leadership in strengthening this industry because of its central reinforcing that industry and we are proud to be at the forefront of that movement".

"I hope the BYD investment project can achieve mutual benefits and common development and advance the bilateral cooperation improving the on production capacity of the automotive industry , inclusive of the automotive industry; by utilizing making full use of the advantages ofwith our joint efforts,” said Duan Jielong, Chinese ambassador to Hungary.

According to BYD, the factory will begin with building electric buses and coaches and will expand to include electric forklift trucks and light commercial vehicles. “We are very pleased that BYD, a major Chinese multinational companyon the cutting edge of new automotive technology, has cutting edge technology and  innovation, which boosts the and the  international competitiveness of its auto sector," Peter Szijjarto, Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

BYD has become an industry leader in electric-powered public transportation. In March, it announced the acquisition of an 80,000-square-meter site for a plant in Beauvais, a city in northern Paris. BYD also has an agreement to provide motors, drive-trains and batteries to Alexander Dennis, a manufacturing company in Falkirk, Scotland, and has sold electric buses to London's transport authorities. It recently agreed to provide electric single-deckers to the northwest British city of Liverpool.