Hunan CRRC Times Electric Vehicle Co Ltd, a Zhuzhou-based electric vehicle manufacturer, will invest 1.5 billion yuan ($219 million) to set up an electric bus plant in Hebei province.

The investment comes in response to surging demand for such vehicles from Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province.

The plant will be built in Shijiazhuang, Hebei's capital. Site work will start next year. Upon completion in 2018, it can produce 15,000 electric buses annually, and will serve the province and neighboring cities, including Beijing and Tianjin.