BYD to build E-Truck plant in Canada

Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario (middle) and delegation meet with BYD executives

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Recently BYD announced that it would build an electric truck factory in Canada, which is also its first electric vehicle assembly plant in Canada. It is reported that the parts and technology needed for early production in the factory will be imported from China but these may be purchased in Canada in the future.

The electric truck factory will be officially put into operation next year, initially with 40 employees and more in the coming years. Although parts and technologies will be imported from China in the early stage of the plant, BYD officials said that most of the raw materials will be procured in Canada as time goes by.

BYD Canadian spokesman Ted Dowling emphasized in an interview that BYD is a global company that hopes to achieve more localized production. Compared with the United States, BYD’s access to Canada is easier and the business environment is friendlier. Therefore, BYD will put more investments and efforts in the Canadian market. However, BYD officials declined to disclose the specific location of the plant, the amount of investment and of government grants.

In early 2013, BYD had already established an electric bus factory in Lancaster, California in USA. At present, the factory has 700 staffs from an initial number of less than 100.

The Canadian car industry saw a thriving market, but has slowed in recent years due to the competition from Mexico and the United States. Canada is now trying to rejuvenate the automotive industry through electrification. Several provinces in Canada are offering rebates for electric car buyers in the amount of thousands of dollars.