1200 zero-emission, electric buses made by BYD Company Ltd will soon hit the streets of China’s “Bright Northern Pearl”, Dalian.

Dalian’s municipal government has signed a cooperative agreement with global electric vehicle and battery manufacturer, BYD. The agreement stipulates the purchase of 600 BYD electric buses in 2014 and another 600 in 2015, totaling 1200 units.

BYD took the opportunity at the signing event to announce the opening of a new electric bus manufacturing facility in the Dalian Huayuankou Economic Zone to service the growing needs of northern China. The agreement also mentions a conversion initiative of more than 50% of new purchased taxis in Dalian to new energy vehicles in support of the “new energy vehicles promotion and local environment improvement” initiative.

BYD operational statistics of the its electric fleets now totaling over 175 million km traveled (~111 million miles in revenue service) and operating in many cities including recent projects in London, England and New York City.

The company recently inked a similar purchase agreement with Nanjing, for 600 electric buses and 400 electric taxis.