(BRK.A), (BRK.B)
Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD, the world’s leading electric bus manufacturer, is uniting the people of Slovakia and Hungary with the delivery of its best-selling 40-foot eBus to Volánbusz Zrt. — one of Hungary’s largest public transport operators.
Volanbusz Zrt. will offer daily electric bus services across the Danube river to the cities of Komarom, Hungry on the south bank of the river, and Karmano, Slovakia on the north bank.
Now citizens on both sides of the river can travel between the two countries on board an electric bus for the first time.
Volánbusz’s latest low-floor BYD vehicle delivers a 180-mile single-charge range from its 348kWh battery capacity. The two-door model will also provide class-leading safety and high levels of comfort for passengers. BYD’s 40-foot eBus remains the company’s, and the European market’s, best-selling electric bus.
Volánbusz plans to buy additional electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.
In 2017, BYD opened its first European bus factory in Komárom, Hungary. The factory produces roughly 400 buses annually, and employs over 300 people.
“This is an historic day for the people of Komárom and Komárno,” said Yongping Chen, Managing Director, BYD Electric Bus & Truck Hungary. “Passengers can travel across the Danube on board a pure-electric BYD eBus in safety, comfort and, above all, help promote a cleaner, more sustainable future for the two cities.
BYD and Berkshire Hathaway
In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares for $232 million. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $232 million had grown in value to $5.897 billion as of December 31, 2020.
© 2021 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway and BYD, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a 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.