{"id":"1793256323306-tech-headlines","slug":"california-s-byd-bus-deal-sparks-ev-outrage","title":"California's BYD bus deal sparks EV outrage","summary":"California's Department of General Services selected BYD motor coaches for a statewide zero-emission bus purchasing contract, and those coaches are built in Lancaster, California by union workers, according to [en.byd.com](https://en.byd.com/news/byd-motor-coaches-selected-for-california-purchasing-contract/). Tesla and Rivian do not make transit buses, so this is not a case of choosing BYD over them.","publishedAt":"2026-10-29T06:45:23.306Z","channel":{"id":"tech","name":"Oncast Tech","language":"en"},"show":"Tech After Dark","verification":{"status":"verified","leadVerdict":"MISLEADING","notes":"MISLEADING: California's Department of General Services selected BYD motor coaches for a statewide zero-emission bus purchasing contract, and those coaches are built in Lancaster, California by union workers, according to [en.byd.com](https://en.byd.com/news/byd-motor-coaches-selected-for-california-purchasing-contract/). Tesla and Rivian do not make transit buses, so this is not a case of choosing BYD over them.\nSource: BYD USA NAMES: BYD = Chinese electric vehicle and battery manufacturer; Tesla = American EV maker; Rivian = American EV startup; Gavin Newsom = California gover (https://x.com/DanaPoint88/status/2113646530930659488)","claims":[{"verdict":"MISLEADING","summary":"California's Department of General Services selected BYD motor coaches for a statewide zero-emission bus purchasing contract, and those coaches are built in Lancaster, California by union workers, according to [en.byd.com](https://en.byd.com/news/byd-motor-coaches-selected-for-california-purchasing-contract/). Tesla and Rivian do not make transit buses, so this is not a case of choosing BYD over them.","sourceName":"BYD USA NAMES: BYD = Chinese electric vehicle and battery manufacturer; Tesla = American EV maker; Rivian = American EV startup; Gavin Newsom = California gover","sourceUrl":"https://x.com/DanaPoint88/status/2113646530930659488","claim":"So @CAgovernor would rather give electric vehicle contracts to Chinese BYD than @elonmusk ‘s @tesla or @Rivian Make that make sense, as a Californian you don’t hate @GavinNewsom enough. The guy ran the best electric car company out of California and here is one of the many https:","author":"James Croft (@DanaPoint88)"}]},"sources":[{"url":"https://x.com/DanaPoint88/status/2113646530930659488","name":"BYD USA NAMES: BYD = Chinese electric vehicle and battery manufacturer; Tesla = American EV maker; Rivian = American EV startup; Gavin Newsom = California gover","kind":"x","verdict":"MISLEADING","author":"James Croft (@DanaPoint88)"}],"url":"https://oncast.fm/story/1793256323306-tech-headlines-california-s-byd-bus-deal-sparks-ev-outrage","listenUrl":"https://oncast.fm/c/tech","attribution":{"publisher":"Oncast","site":"https://oncast.fm","url":"https://oncast.fm/story/1793256323306-tech-headlines-california-s-byd-bus-deal-sparks-ev-outrage","cite":"Cite https://oncast.fm/story/1793256323306-tech-headlines-california-s-byd-bus-deal-sparks-ev-outrage and the original source links. Fact-check by Oncast (oncast.fm)."},"hostsSaid":[{"host":"Chris","text":"Tech Brief, two minutes, biggest stories right now."},{"host":"Chris","text":"California's buying electric buses from BYD, and the outrage machine is already spinning."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"A post going around says the governor chose Chinese BYD over Tesla and Rivian."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"Here's what's actually true: the state picked BYD motor coaches for a zero-emission bus contract."},{"host":"Chris","text":"And according to the report, those coaches are built in Lancaster, California, by union workers."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"Tesla and Rivian don't make transit buses. So it's not a choice between them."},{"host":"Chris","text":"The post asks how this makes sense. It makes sense because BYD actually builds buses."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"Different story: a claim that India's Tata Motors ranks first globally in EV energy efficiency."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"That's from the International Council on Clean Transportation's 2025 rating."},{"host":"Chris","text":"We couldn't confirm that ranking anywhere. Treat it as a claim, not a fact."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"And USA Today's car desk says Rivian is now the second-most-popular EV brand behind Tesla."},{"host":"Chris","text":"Also unconfirmed. Last year, Ford and Hyundai-Kia typically outsold Rivian in the U.S."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"So two EV claims floating around tonight, neither one solid yet."},{"host":"Chris","text":"That's your Tech Brief. Back to the show."}]}