BYD ramps up PPE face mask efforts
The plant, created earlier this year, is now running at full capacity and can produce 50 million masks per day.

BYD is sharing a new video telling the story of how the electric vehicle manufacturer created the world’s largest PPE face-mask plant.
The plant, created earlier this year, is now running at full capacity and can produce 50 million masks per day. This allows BYD to help alleviate severe shortages affecting hospitals and agencies across the globe due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
In late January, BYD began assisting production of masks and disinfection gels to tackle the growing COVID-19 outbreak. A special task force was appointed by BYD Chairman and President Wang Chuanfu, consisting of leaders from different business divisions and more than 3,000 engineers involved in research and development, design, processing, and other roles.
The task force moved with incredible speed, completing both the R&D and manufacturing process of mask-production equipment within seven days, as opposed to the normal length of 15 to 30 days to fully manufacture a mask-producing machine.
By Feb.8, the newly-built production lines in one of BYD’s industrial parks in Shenzhen began producing these critical supplies, thanks to hundreds of staff working both day and night shifts, along with machines working around the clock.
BYD announced it will donate $1 million in medical supplies, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and hand sanitizer to transit agencies and first responders in the U.S. and Canada.
The supplies are arriving at various U.S. distributions centers to be closer to those locations where they are needed most. The supplies include FDA-approved Adult Surgical Masks and KN-95 respiratory protective devices as well as hand sanitizer that is 99.999% effective.
Several thousand PPEs have already been delivered to agencies including the City of Los Angeles, the Valley Medical Center in San Jose California, the Toronto Transit Commission, and the LA County Sheriff’s Department.
More Security and Safety

FTA Launches 'Transit Moves America' Dashboard to Highlight Agency Safety and Performance
The online dashboard transforms National Transit Database information into a public-facing resource that allows users to compare transit agencies on key operational and safety metrics.
Read More →
LA Metro Marks Banner Year, Sets Ambitious Goals for New Fiscal Year
Incoming LA Metro Board Chair and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined outgoing Board Chair Fernando Dutra and LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins to review accomplishments from fiscal year 2026, which included the opening of new rail extensions, advancement of major transit projects, expanded safety programs, and new rider amenities.
Read More →
Building the Next Generation of Transit Technology
In this edition of METROspectives, Luminator CEO Magnus Friberg discusses the company's transformation, the growing role of AI and software, and what's next for transit technology.
Read More →
TTC Launches Camera Pilot to Curb Illegal Passing of Streetcars
During the pilot, the cameras will measure how often illegal streetcar passing occurs and test the technology's reliability for future automated enforcement.
Read More →
Biz Briefs: Masabi Teams with St. Louis Metro and More
In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at recent news from Transdev, Hitachi, and more partnerships making headlines across the transportation sector.
Read More →
Metra Begins Drone Pilot Project to Boost Safety and Security
The project is funded through a $620,000 grant from FEMA’s Transit Security Grant Program, which provides transit agencies with funding for projects intended to protect critical transportation infrastructure and the traveling public.
Read More →Building the Next Generation of Transit Technology
In this edition of METROspectives, Luminator CEO Magnus Friberg discusses the company's transformation, the growing role of AI and software, and what's next for transit technology.
Read More →
APTA Recognizes Excellence in Rail Safety and Security at 2026 Rail Conference
Nominations are evaluated on four criteria: effectiveness, benefit level, innovation, and transferability.
Read More →
Biz Briefs: Endera Delivers to California, Safety Vision Teams with San Antonio's VIA, and More
From manufacturers and suppliers to transit agencies and motorcoach operators, these updates offer a snapshot of the projects, partnerships and business moves driving the industry forward.
Read More →
The Role of AI in Public Safety for Smart Transit Systems
As transit systems generate more data than ever, AI-powered safety tools are helping agencies detect incidents faster, improve response times and enhance situational awareness.
Read More →