Chile Grows its Electric Bus Fleet, Adding 150 New BYD Buses

The 150 new buses are added to the existing fleet in Santiago, totaling 455 BYD electric buses in operation

Latin America’s largest fleet of zero-emission buses just got bigger as Santiago’s RED system added 150 BYD buses to Chile’s public transport system. The buses will run along Avenida Bernardo O’Higgins, the historic central avenue in the Chilean capital and will be operated by Metbus. With a total of 455 buses in operation, BYD firmly leads Chile’s electric bus market.

“This new fleet of 150 BYD electric buses will bring citizens more quality trips while improving Santiago’s air quality,” said Tamara Berríos, Country Manager, BYD Chile.

BYD’s electric buses are successfully deployed across Latin America. Santiago’s electric bus fleet will reach almost 800 units by the end of this year. Chile wants to completely electrify public transportation by the 2040.

Santiago, Chile – As part of the push for electrification in the Chilean public transport system, on Saturday, June 27, 150 new BYD electric buses were incorporated into the RED system. Operated by the transit company Metbus, which currently has the largest fleet of electric buses in the Americas, these buses will be incorporated in services that run through Avenida Bernardo O’Higgins, known as the Alameda, the historic central avenue in the Chilean capital.

With a total of 455 buses in operation, BYD is firmly a leader in the country’s electric bus market, with a 65% share.With 455 buses operating in the Chilean capital, projects in other regions of the country and its secure participation in the tender for the system, BYD Chile is currently an established leader in electrified public transportation across Latin America. So much so that in April 2019, the President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, made an exclusive visit to BYD’s global headquarters in Shenzhen as part of a state visit to China, emphasizing the “unlimited opportunities” for future cooperation between his country and BYD.