BYD Co. launched output at an electric bus assembly plant in the northern French city of Beauvais this month, as the leading Chinese electrified vehicle maker continues to expand its global reach.
The 10 million-euro (78 million yuan) factory can build up to 200 buses annually. The first two single-deck electric buses off the production line were delivered to the Beauvais city government, BYD said.
The electric buses can drive up to 160 kilometers a day after one charge.
The Beauvais factory is BYD's second electric bus assembly plant in mainland Europe. A plant in Komarom, Hungary, started production in April 2017.
In the United Kingdom, the Chinese company assembles double-deck electric buses with local bus and coach manufacturer Alexander Dennis. BYD supplies the batteries and bodies, and Alexander Dennis provides interiors.
BYD also operates EV assembly plants in California and the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo. It also plans to build a factory in Morocco to assemble electric cars, buses and trucks.
BYD said it has confirmed orders for more than 600 electric buses in Europe and has delivered more than 35,000 electric buses globally.
BYD, based in Shenzhen, is listed in Hong Kong and Shanghai. It is partly owned by U.S. billionaire Warren Buffett.
In the first 11 months of the year, the company delivered 451,050 vehicles in and outside China. Of that tally, 201,161 were EVs and plug-in hybrids. The rest were gasoline cars.
