BYD appoints two new managers at Californian manufacturing plant

BYD has announced the recent addition of two transportation professionals to its Lancaster, California manufacturing plant team: Peter Hale as Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Manager, and Robert Matute as Safety Manager.

With these two experienced veterans on board, BYD continues its investment in the North American market, critical zero-emission initiatives and ongoing advancement of its plant’s production and operational efficiency.

“The appointment of world-class quality control and safety experts like Peter Hale and Robert Matute to our team are additional catalysts in our leadership advancement of this innovative and disruptive market,” said Stella Li, President of BYD North America. “We are committed to the highest quality products and experience for our customers as a total solutions provider, and the ongoing, safe workplace for our team.”

Peter Hale

Hale brings over 35 years of public transit and private sector bus manufacturing experience from the U.S. and overseas, most recently serving for six years as an Assistant Project Manager for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). He served as the technical liaison with OEMs and oversaw new builds of full electric buses, carried out new vehicle inspections for compliance, signed off completed products and served as an overall technical advisor.

As the BYD QA/QC Manager, Hale will oversee BYD’s Quality Management System and verify conformance to customer, internal, ISO 9001 and regulatory/legal requirements; inspection of incoming materials; monitoring, measurement, and review of internal processes; and monitoring employee performance, safety and training.

Hale said: “Applying my technical and industry knowledge to BYD’s team is one more piece of my journey, and in the evolution of this technology. I am proud to lead a 40-person strong team of quality engineers and inspectors dedicated to keep BYD advancing.”

As BYD’s Safety Manager, Matute will oversee all aspects of safety, including compliance with local, state, and federal rules and regulations, including California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OHSA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Helping to maintain a safe workplace, he will develop and implement an updated facility management programme including preventative maintenance and life-cycle requirements; provide ongoing safety training and awareness; conduct and document facility inspections; and oversee environmental health and safety.

Robert Matute

Matute brings with him more than 20 years of safety management experience in assessing, designing and implementing safety guidelines. Prior to joining BYD, Matute served as the Safety Project Coordinator for the Nevell Group responsible for assisting in the management/administration of the company’s corporate safety programme. In that role, Matute coordinated the training of workers on safety law and regulations, conducted job site safety inspections, and managed safety documentation.

“My goal is to achieve sustainable, best-in-class, safety performance,” Matute said. “We do this by building a strong unified leadership safety culture that engages and empowers employees at all levels to take ownership in reducing unsafe acts and exposure to accidents and injuries. Our actions and behaviours demonstrate that safety is a core value.”

BYD is the only electric vehicle manufacturer in the U.S. to have an all-union workforce.