(BRK.A), (BRK.B)
After the delivery of the largest e-taxi fleet in Ecuador last month, Chinese new energy technology company BYD has delivered twenty more of its pure electric e6 taxi to Uruguay’s capital city, Montevideo.
The BYD pure electric taxi fleet was launched in 2015, as the country’s pioneering initiative towards electrified public transportation.
Key to the program is that the e6’s operational cost is 6-8 times lower than that of a traditional gasoline taxi.
The Uruguayan government is supporting the move to electrified transportation. The government offers unprecedented subsidies and advantages to potential buyers: 60,000 USD subsidy for a pure electric taxi license, which is 50% less as compared to a conventional taxi; owners will also be exempted of the 23% import tax on the vehicles; as well as a 5,000 USD subsidy for installing the charger, totaling up to 100,000 USD in incentives.
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 $1.8 billion.
For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.
© 2017 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.