BYD Co Ltd, a Chinese manufacturer of automobiles and rechargeable batteries, announced that it has produced its first United States-made zero emission electric buses and delivered them to California's Lancaster City.

The Chinese electric car manufacturer launched its first electric bus manufacturing facility in the city in May of last year, becoming the first totally Chinese-owned car manufacturing plant in the United States, the company said in a statement.

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Among those who made the first purchases was the Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA), which bought two BYD electric buses. AVTA said the buses will be put into service starting August.

AVTA Chairman Norm Hickling said BYD's zero emission electric buses will help AVTA achieve its goal of helping the community move away from gas- and diesel-powered buses and into environment-friendly electric buses.

Hickling said AVTA operates 73 buses throughout the Antelope Valley but the organization is looking at replacing all the buses with electric buses by BYD in the next couple of years.

BYD's Lancaster factory vice CEO Michael Austin said the electric buses that the company delivered in California are entirely US-manufactured. That means all manufacturing and testing processes took place in the Lancaster factory while the buses' accessories, including chairs and air-conditioners, were bought from suppliers in the mainland US.

California Governor Jerry Brown, who was present during the symbolic delivery ceremony, said the BYD delivery, although it involved just a few buses, hols promise that something very big and very important is coming.

Mayor Rex Parris of Lancaster City also hailed BYD's decision to invest in the city, stressing that the investment is expected to bring thousands of job opportunities in Lancaster in the long run.

BYD said it will deliver more electric buses in the next few months into the different cities in the United States.

TagsBYD, Electric Buses, US Electric Buses, BYD Buses, Electric Buses California