(Yicai Global) Oct. 21 -- A unit of BYD,one of China’s biggest electric vehicle makers,and Japan’s Hino Motors have agreed to establish a joint venture in China next year to develop battery electric trucks.

BYD Auto Industry and Hino signed a cooperation deal on the 50-50 JV today, the Chinese carmaker said via WeChat, without divulging any financial details. The newfirm will also develop auto parts and aim to quickly meet the needs of Asian market customers.

The move follows parent company BYD’s April announcement of an alliance with Tokyo-based Hino on commercial BEVs while cooperating on retail and other related businesses. The JV will introduce Hino-branded commercial BEVs by 2025.

BYD Auto Industry’s commercial BEVs cover all-electric buses and trucks. It has so far sold more than 50,000 units of its K9 pure electric bus to more than 50 countries and regions, making it the world’s best-selling all-electric bus over 10 meters in length.

Toyota Motor owns Hino. Through its tie-up with Hino, Shenzhen-based BYD’s cooperation with the major Japanese automaker now covers new energy passenger and commercial vehicles.

Editor: Peter Thomas