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.

Related Content

  • May 10, 2019
    Nobina orders 20 additional e-buses from BYD
    Swedish bus operator Nobina has ordered 20 additional electric buses from BYD, bringing its total electric fleet to 138 vehicles. Nobina says the 18m articulated electric buses are powered by cobalt-free iron-phosphate batteries which offer high levels of performance and operational safety. Two separate deliveries of this latest BYD e-bus order will be made, with four vehicles destined for the Barkarby district of Stockholm, and 16 for the city of Linköping. Deliveries of the buses are expected to comm
    Read More
  • April 30, 2015
    Cable cars come of age in trans-continental expansion
    David Crawford explores a high-level option of public transport. Sharing its origin with that of ski lifts at winter sports resorts in the European Alps, urban aerial cable transport is attracting growing interest as a low-footprint, low-energy alternative to conventional public transport that can swoop over ground-level traffic congestion.
    Read More
  • July 19, 2018
    Cost benefit: Toronto retimings tame traffic trauma
    Canada’s largest city reckons that it is saving its taxpayers’ money simply by altering the way traffic lights work. David Crawford reviews Toronto’s ambitious plans to ease congestion Toronto, Canada’s largest metropolis (and the fourth largest in North America), has saved its residents CAN$53 (US$42.4) for every CAN$1 (US$0.80) spent over a 2012-2016 traffic signal retiming programme, according to figures released by its Transportation Services Division. The programme covered 1,275 signals (the city’s
    Read More
  • October 25, 2012
    Electric minicabs to debut in London
    Chinese electric car manufacturer BYD and London green minicab company greentomatocars have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create London’s first fleet of all-electric minicabs. BYD will supply greentomatocars with 50 of its pure electric e6 models for trial use in the capital. The cars are expected to be available for customers to use from the second quarter of 2013.
    Read More

Highlighted Content