Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has reportedly begun building its production base in Camacari in the Brazilian state of Bahia.

The complex is expected to be completed late this year or early next year, the Shenzhen-based firm announced yesterday, Jiemian reported today.

BYD will build its new complex from scratch on the site of Ford’s old Brazilian plant and give the old facilities to its suppliers, the company noted. BYD paid the Bahia government BRL287.8 million (USD58 million) for the 4.6 million-square-meter land.

The first phase of the project, which will comprise 26 facilities, including production warehouses, vehicle proving grounds, and three plants, is expected to cover an area of 1 million sqm and have a production capacity of 150,000 units of the Dolphin, Song Plus, Yuan Plus, and Dolphin Mini.

Two of the three plants will produce new energy passenger vehicles, electric buses, and truck chassis, while the third one will process lithium iron phosphate battery materials, BYD disclosed last July.