BYD's 2nd Xi'an plant to make 400,000 vehicles a year

Shanghai, April 9 (Gasgoo.com) BYD's second plant in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi province, will have an annual production capacity to reach 400,000 vehicles, Shenzhen Post reported today.

After purchasing Shaanxi Qinchuan Auto Co. in 2003, BYD began to build new facilities at Xi'an Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone, establishing its Xi'an production base. The second Xi'an facility, with an annual output of 400,000 units, will produce its L3, G3, F5 cars and auto parts.

In July 2009, BYD Auto signed a deal with Xi'an municipality to build a new plant for auto output expansion in the city, as part of the company's strategies to expand its auto production capacity and product line-up.

Most components for the new Xi'an plant's auto production will be made locally. Alongside the new factory, BYD will set up a 600,000-set engine plant. The two projects in the Xi'an high-etch zone have a total investment of 5 billion ($732 mln).

The current BYD auto facility in Xi'an has an annual capacity of 200,000 units. In the six years from 2009 to 2015, BYD will also build a 5000MW solar energy battery production line in Shannxi.

BYD has also bought stake in bus-maker Hunan Midea Coach, and is building a bus-and-minivan facility in Changsha with an annual capacity of 400,000 units.