BYD brings Chinese EVs to US with Los Angeles sales office

China EV auto maker, BYD, has made its North American debut with a new headquarters based in Los Angeles.

The new headquarters will support BYD dealerships throughout the continent that sell several products, including BYD's dual-mode electric and e6 pure electric vehicles, all-electric long-range eBUS commercial buses, rapid charging stations, home solar systems and LED and solar energy systems for streets and parking lots.

BYD, which stands for "Build Your Dreams," also announced that it would supply Hertz Car Rentals' Los Angeles Airport (LAX) facility with an eBUS-12 to shuttle rental customers between its facility and the terminal. The all-electric bus can drive 155 miles on one charge and may generate lifetime savings up to USD500,000," Richard Broome, Hertz's senior vice president of corporate affairs and communications, said in a statement.

However, due to delays, initial goals for the Shenzhen, China-based company’s California arrival haven’t been met either in BYD jobs or indirect business created. The delays reflect a combination of construction obstacles and an electric-car market that hasn’t developed as rapidly as first expected.