Build Your Dreams has announced it will open its first Canadian electric bus assembly plant in Newmarket.

The company expanded its North American operations with a 45,000-square-foot facility on Harry Walker Parkway that is the first new electric bus plant to open in Ontario in a generation. At first, the facility is only expected to employ a handful of people but a spokesperson pointed out that number has the potential to grow into hundreds as other BYD facilities have done.

It is expecting to be up and running this summer.

“We are dedicated to partnering with municipalities across Canada and we are passionate about our mission to create a cleaner environment here in North America and across the globe,” BYD President Stella Li said in a written statement.

While the new facility will be the company’s first assembly plant here, it's already active in the Canadian market with buses on order or in operation in Toronto, Victoria, Longeuil, St. Albert and Grand Prairie. The plant will focus on assembling buses for the Toronto Transit Commission, the country’s largest transit operator. The agency will receive ten pure electric buses with an option for 30 more.

Each zero-emission bus, like those manufactured by BYD, eliminates about 10 tons of nitrogen oxides, 350 pounds of diesel particulate matter and 1,690 tons of CO2 over the 12-year lifecycle of the bus.

“As traditional auto manufacturing is withdrawing from Canada, municipalities across the country are re-doubling their efforts to tackle climate change through zero-emissions transit,” BYD vice-president Ted Dowling said. “BYD is well-positioned to replicate in Canada the kind of rapid growth we’ve seen in places like Lancaster, California — a plant which started with about 100 workers in 2013, and now employs more than 750. Together with our partners in York Region and the town of Newmarket we’re going to put Canada on the map as a North American leader in electric bus assembly.”

The company is expanding into Ontario because of the highly skilled workforce that is familiar with the needs of BYD’s industry, according to the company.

Newmarket Mayor John Taylor said the community welcomes the coming of the new plant.

“We are excited that BYD has chosen the town of Newmarket as their headquarters in Canada,” Taylor said. “Newmarket is an ideal location for businesses like BYD, as we are already home to a number of advanced transportation equipment manufacturers. In Newmarket, BYD is well-positioned to service the GTA and the Canadian market. We look forward to supporting BYD and their employees as they begin their operations.”