Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD Company (OTC:BYDDY) has secured its inaugural order for electric buses in South Africa, advancing its mission to electrify public transportation globally.

The new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer signed an order with 163-year-old South African bus operator Golden Arrow on July 23 to supply 120 electric buses.

This partnership aims to electrify the local public transportation network. BYD highlighted this as a pivotal move towards creating South Africa's first electric bus fleet, reported CnEVPost.

Since 2021, BYD and Golden Arrow have conducted extensive tests, including simulations of peak passenger loads and evaluations on Cape Town's steepest roads.

These tests confirmed the vehicles' performance, extended charge range, and stringent safety standards, paving the way for larger-scale collaborations, according to BYD.

The electric buses, designed to suit South Africa's climate and transportation demands, will be integrated into Golden Arrow's existing fleet.

Also Read: BYD Poised To Surpass Tesla In EV Sales As US And Europe Demand Wanes

Each 65-seat bus, measuring 12.5 meters in length, is equipped with BYD's lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries and six-in-one controllers to enhance efficiency and reliability.

BYD plans to start delivering the buses to Golden Arrow in December 2023 and aims to complete the delivery of all 120 units by the end of 2025.

BYD has rapidly become the world's leading NEV maker, predominantly in the passenger car segment.

In the first half of the year, BYD sold 1,612,983 NEVs, marking a 28.46% increase year-on-year. Its passenger NEVs accounted for 1,607,145 units, while commercial NEVs totaled 5,838 units, down 21.91%.

BYD had earlier reported a jump in passenger vehicle sales for the month of June 2024, with a total of 340,211 vehicle deliveries.

Since proposing its city bus electrification solution in 2010, BYD has delivered over 80,000 electric buses worldwide. The company's commercial vehicles operate on six continents, in cities like Amsterdam, London, Tokyo, and Sao Paulo.

Price Action: BYDDY shares are trading lower by 2.60% at $59.12 at last check Thursday.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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