(AP)—The first Chinese-owned vehicle manufacturer in the United States has unveiled ambitious plans to build as many as 1,000 electric buses a year at a refurbished RV manufacturing plant in the Mojave Desert.
At a news conference at its new facility Wednesday, BYD officials said the plant should produce the first 10 of its plug-in buses next year.
BYD hopes to be rolling out 50 a year within two years. It aims to be running the plant at full capacity, 1,000 buses a year, within 10 to 20 years.
The buses will be powered by BYD's own rechargeable batteries.
BYD senior vice president Stella Li says the endeavor represents more than a $10 million investment in Lancaster.
She says the plant should eventually employ about 1,000 people.
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