METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

BYD debuts SkyRail at Mayors Summit in Mexico City

BYD President/Chairman Wang Chuanfu made the announcement as he called on countries around the world to reduce the earth’s temperature by 1 degree Celsius.

December 2, 2016
BYD debuts SkyRail at Mayors Summit in Mexico City

BYD President/Chairman Wang Chuanfu talks about SkyRail.

2 min to read


BYD President/Chairman Wang Chuanfu talks about SkyRail.

BYD today unveiled its SkyRail electric monorail at the biannual C40 Mayors Summit in Mexico City. SkyRail is part of the company’s urban transportation solution, which aims to address air pollution and traffic congestion.

BYD President/Chairman Wang Chuanfu made the announcement as he called on countries around the world to reduce the earth’s temperature by 1 degree Celsius. The company’s efforts have reduced carbon emissions by around 310 million kg over the past five years — the equivalent to planting 26 million trees.

Ad Loading...

BYD’s public appeal comes nearly one month after the Paris Climate Agreement entered into force. The treaty commits countries like China and the U.S. to keep global warming to no more than 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.

Prior to its international launch in Mexico City, BYD debuted its SkyRail in October 2016 at the company’s headquarters in Shenzhen, China. The SkyRail took five years to research and develop at an investment of 5 billion yuan (around 724 million USD). Compared to the subway, SkyRail’s construction costs are 80 percent less and only take a third of the time to build. BYD has already secured a 60 billion yuan (around 8.7 billion USD) loan from China Development Bank to develop SkyRail. The company will also build a SkyRail network of 21 miles in Shantou, a city of 5 million people in Southern China.

BYD


BYD’s solar energy panels, energy storage systems and other modes of electric transport are currently sold in more than 50 countries and regions. The South African city of Cape Town is the latest purchaser of BYD’s electric buses after signing a contract to buy 11 BYD e-buses at the C40 Mayors Summit. Cape Town will become the first city on the African continent to use electric buses for public transportation.


More Technology

Technology•October 30, 2026

ETA CEO John Maglio on Transit Technology, Innovation, and Building Agency Trust

ETA founder and CEO John Maglio explores the evolution of transit technology, the importance of reliable systems, and how stronger partnerships can help agencies improve operations and the passenger experience.

Read More →
A Lextran Connect vehicle
Technology•by Alex Roman•October 30, 2026

Lextran, Via Team for On Demand, HDR to Work on Twin Cities BRT, and More

In METRO's latest installment, we also take a look at recent news from Keolis, Complete Coach Works, Anchor Transportation, and more partnerships making headlines across the transportation sector.

Read More →
A Caltrain electric railcar on the tracks
Rail•by Alex Roman•October 27, 2026

Caltrain’s Electrification Drives a New Era of Ridership Growth

The railroad’s shift to electric service has brought more frequent trains, stronger customer satisfaction, and increased ridership, earning it APTA’s Outstanding Public Transportation System award.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
METRO Magazine graphic featuring a video surveillance camera overlooking a public pedestrian area with the headline “Video Surveillance in Public Transit: What Riders Really Think.”
Technology•by Elora Haynes•October 26, 2026

Video Surveillance in Public Transit: What Riders Really Think

As video surveillance gains public acceptance, new research from Axis Communications reveals what transit riders expect from agencies when it comes to safety, privacy, and AI.

Read More →
An A line MTA subway car near the soon to be replaced signaling system.
Rail•by Staff and News Reports•October 23, 2026

New York MTA Launches Historic $1.9B Signal, Track Modernization Project

Funded in part by congestion pricing revenue, the project will replace nearly century-old signals along the A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens.

Read More →
A rendering of Alexander Dennis and Volvo's new electric tram
Technology•by Alex Roman•October 22, 2026

Biz Briefs: New Electric Offering from Alexander Dennis/Volvo, Transdev in Boston, and More

In METRO's latest installment, we also take a look at recent news from STV, WSP, Prevost, and more partnerships making headlines across the transportation sector.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
ABC Companies President and CEO Roman Cornell
Bus•by Alex Roman•October 21, 2026

Roman Cornell on ABC Companies’ Evolution and the Future of Passenger Transportation

The company’s CEO discusses carrying forward a third-generation family legacy, ABC’s continued evolution in passenger transportation, support for increasingly complex fleets, and how technology and continued investment could help operators improve uptime.

Read More →
Unifying Transit Data With AI Tools with ETA's John Maglio
Technology•by Alex Roman•October 19, 2026

ETA CEO John Maglio on Transit Technology, Innovation, and Building Agency Trust

ETA founder and CEO John Maglio explores the evolution of transit technology, the importance of reliable systems, and how stronger partnerships can help agencies improve operations and the passenger experience.

Read More →
The Frontrunner XF on the APTA Expo show floor in 2026.
Paratransit•by Alex Roman•October 15, 2026

Frontrunner Bus Group Introduces XF Low-Floor Bus with Enhanced Accessibility

The new mid-sized bus features a full flat-floor design, eight-inch curbside step-in height, and zero-entry rear ramp to improve passenger access and operational flexibility.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Zero Emissions•October 12, 2026

Building a Flexible Path to Transit Electrification with BAE's John Hroncich

John Hroncich discusses BAE Systems’ modular and scalable approach, lessons learned from decades of real-world operations, and how agencies can identify electrification strategies that fit their fleets.

Read More →