DesignLine Corp. and Liberty Automotive announced a $30 million joint venture to open a DesignLine UAE production facility in Abu Dhabi. The new facility will open prior to years end with a capacity of 300 buses annually and projected revenue for its first year in excess of $80 million.  

With the joint venture and increased requests for 30-, 35- and 40-foot hybrid-electric buses, DesignLine expects the resulting employment opportunities to more than double its current workforce in both Charlotte, N.C., and Christchurch, New Zealand.

Impact of these sustainable jobs will be felt significantly throughout the Mecklenburg region of North Carolina and the Canterbury region of New Zealand. Both locations will focus on adding high tech, full-time positions within the rapidly expanding clean energy sector.

The new DesignLine UAE facility will specialize in zero emission all-electric buses; with the DesignLine proprietary software vehicle management system being supplied by DesignLine USA and DesignLine R&D NZ.