(BRK.A), (BRK.B)
BYD Company is ready to spread its SkyRail monorail system across the globe, and S. Korea looks like the first market for its new mass transportation system.
Things are happening quickly. On October 13, 2016, debuted its SkyRail monorail system in Shenzhen, China. The monorail was developed out of BYD’s five-year RMB 5 billion R&D project.
BYD’s initial 4.4 kilometer monorail line runs to its Shenzhen Headquarters, alleviates the traffic problems of 50,000 factory and management employees.
Strategically, SkyRail marks the company’s entry into the multi-trillion yuan mass transit market. BYD believes its monorails can counter traffic congestion in cities around the world while also offering more convenient mobility to urban residents.
Now, it looks like BYD’s SkyRail will be heading to S. Korea.
While commenting on the sale of 21 units of BYD’s 7m pure electric buses to Jeju Island, a popular South Korean vacation spot, Liu Xueliang, General Manager of BYD’s Asia Pacific Auto Sales Division, also mentioned SkyRail.
“We are honored to introduce BYD electric vehicles to South Korean market along with the BYD SkyRail, our straddle monorail. These will enable residents of both Jeju Island and the rest of South Korea to reap the benefits of new energy products.”
BYD and Berkshire Hathaway
In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $230 million is now worth roughly $1.77 billion.
For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.
© 2016 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.