BYD Deal Adds Transit Agencies to State Contract

BYD Motors Inc. announced this week its participation in a statewide contract to allow U.S. transit agencies to leverage California’s purchasing contract to buy its battery-electric motor coaches. Created to aid California transit agencies meet zero-emission vehicle mandates, the statewide contract will also be available to governmental entities outside of California. Patrick Duan, vice president of BYD North America, said the contract is a big win for transit agencies throughout the U.S. “By leveraging California’s purchasing contract, transit agencies benefit from the convenience of an existing contract and competitive pricing,” Duan said in a statement. “BYD will supply its zero emission U.S-made coaches to California and America with pride.” The state selected three models for the contract, all of which will be built in at the BYD factory in Lancaster. The models are the 40-foot high-floor coach, the 45-foot low-floor coach and the 45-foot high-floor coach, the company said on Aug. 31. BYD Motors Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD Motors Ltd. It opened its Lancaster plant in 2013 and has sold buses to transit agencies in California and 13 other states.