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

DOT: Brightline Corridor Incidents Fall 30% Following Federal Safety Upgrades
Safety improvements funded through a $25 million federal investment are credited with reducing trespassing and train-vehicle collisions along the Brightline Florida corridor.
Read More →
LA Metro Sworn Officer Recruitment Draws 950 Applications on First Day
The California agency moves safety into its next phase, recruiting officers to help shape a transit-focused, community-centered force.
Read More →
FTA Plans Family-Friendly Transit Scorecard for Agencies Nationwide
The family-friendly transit dashboard is part of a broader effort by the FTA and U.S. Department of Transportation to increase transparency, accountability, and service quality across the nation's public transportation systems, said officials.
Read More →
New Public Safety Hub Opens in Downtown Houston
The substation strengthens METRO Police presence in an area where transit activity, pedestrian movement, and visitor flow converge.
Read More →
SamTrans Sets Priorities for Potential Connect Bay Area Revenue
The board-approved framework allocates future funding to maintaining service, rider improvements, equity initiatives, and infrastructure repairs.
Read More →
Federal Transit Officials Launch MARTA Safety Probe
FTA has given MARTA 15 days to provide records on crime prevention, fare evasion enforcement, and security funding as part of a broader safety investigation.
Read More →
Strategic Safety Measures at CATS Lead to Drop in Transit Crime
Under the leadership of the CATS Chief Safety and Security Officer, the organization has marked a pivotal transformation.
Read More →
Chicago's NITA Act Moves Into Next Phase as Service Improvements Begin
Rider-focused improvements will begin rolling out across the system immediately as CTA, Metra, and Pace increase service this summer in the six-county region.
Read More →
How Transit Agencies Are Evolving Enforcement-Only Models With Care-Based Safety Strategies
Transit agencies are redefining safety with care-based response models. See how leaders are improving trust and operations.
Read More →Low-Floor vs. High-Floor Cutaway vs. Modified Van: How 3 Accessible Minibus Designs Compare
As transit demands evolve, so should your fleet. Download the whitepaper to see how the Low-Floor Frontrunner Minibus compares to traditional options.
Read More →