China's BYD to sell midsize electric bus in Japan

This image provided by China's leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD shows its J7 midsize electric bus tailored for the Japanese market. (BYD/Handout via Xinhua) 

BYD is committed to promoting the electrification of transportation in collaboration with Japanese partners through the introduction of new technologies and products.

TOKYO, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- China's leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD will start to sell a new model of midsize electric bus in Japan to meet the growing demand for green public transportation.

The J7 midsize electric bus tailored for the Japanese market has a range of 250 km and is priced at 36.5 million Japanese yen (about 240,000 U.S. dollars), according to a press conference of BYD Japan Co., Ltd. on Tuesday.

The model is set to begin accepting reservations starting from Jan. 1, 2024, with deliveries expected in the fall of 2025.

The Chinese auto giant made its entry into the Japanese electric bus market in 2015 by delivering five electric buses in Kyoto. Currently, BYD holds a share of over 70 percent in the Japanese electric bus market and aims to achieve cumulative sales of 4,000 buses in the country by 2030.

Liu Xueliang, general manager of BYD Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division and president of BYD Japan, speaks at a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 14, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu) 

"BYD is committed to promoting the electrification of transportation in collaboration with Japanese partners through the introduction of new technologies and products," said Liu Xueliang, general manager of BYD Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division and president of BYD Japan.

Despite boasting a mature auto market, Japan has lagged behind its global peers in the shift towards EVs as gasoline-electric hybrid models remained more popular.

With the global decarbonization trend, Japan has aimed to have all vehicles sold in the country be at least part-electric by 2035, along with increasing subsidies for EV purchases and reduced restrictions on the installation of charging facilities.