Skip to main content

BYD to build autonomous monorail system in Brazil

BYD is to build its SkyRail autonomous monorail in Brazil to connect Salvador’s central business district with São João Island. SkyRail will operate along a 20km track with a capacity of 150,000 passengers per day. The route will be partially built over the sea and offer connections with the city’s subway system. Stella Li, senior vice president of BYD and president of BYD Motors, says SkyRail will offer a zero-emission mode of transport for people living in Salvador. The project will become part
February 20, 2019 Read time: 1 min
5445 BYD is to build its SkyRail autonomous monorail in Brazil to connect Salvador’s central business district with São João Island.


SkyRail will operate along a 20km track with a capacity of 150,000 passengers per day. The route will be partially built over the sea and offer connections with the city’s subway system.

Stella Li, senior vice president of BYD and president of BYD Motors, says SkyRail will offer a zero-emission mode of transport for people living in Salvador.

The project will become part of the city’s light vehicle transport system, which is scheduled to begin construction within six months and will be fully operational by 2021.

SkyRail was launched in October 2016 following five years of research and development. It is currently operational in the western Chinese city of Yinchuan.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Singapore aims to set MaaS benchmark
    September 26, 2019
    Delegates at this year’s ITS World Congress in Singapore will be able to experience Mobility as a Service for themselves in the form of MobilityX’s Zipster app
  • Birmingham CAZ is green for go
    July 26, 2021
    For urban authorities worldwide, the health of residents is racing up the political agenda. Ben Spencer looks at how one city - Birmingham, UK - has established its own Clean Air Zone and is investing in alternative-fuel vehicles and public transport incentives
  • Success of London’s congestion charge scheme
    February 15, 2013
    Said to be the biggest congestion charge scheme to launch in any city, the London scheme got off to a smooth start ten years ago on 17 February 2003, much to the surprise of London's then mayor Ken Livingstone, who ten years later says “it turned out better than I expected.” None of the anticipated pre-7am congestion as drivers attempted to avoid the charge happened, and by the end of the first day 57,000 drivers had paid it. The main problem seemed to be that buses were all running ahead of time and had t
  • Helsinki’s residents trial MaaS as alternative to private cars
    August 21, 2018
    Would you give up your own car? Helsinki implemented MaaS late last year and Colin Sowman discovers that the initial reaction has been positive What would it take for you to give up your own car? That is the question posed by Sampo Hietanen, the so-called ‘father’ of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) and CEO of MaaS Global. And he is about to discover if MaaS really will convince the people of Helsinki to do the unthinkable. MaaS Global introduced a fledgling version of its Whim app in the city in late 2016