BYD has reached an agreement with Japanese conglomerate Softbank

BYD on Sunday confirmed that it has reached an agreement with Japanese conglomerate Softbank to supply 300 million face masks per month starting May, reported Shenzhen Special Zone Daily (in Chinese). A day earlier, Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son said he obtained a monthly supply of 300 million face masks from BYD, which includes 100 million N95 masks and 200 million regular surgical masks. BYD will set up a new production line for Softbank, according to a Reuters report. The news follows a recent deal between Warren Buffet-backed BYD and California to produce "a sustainable amount of" personal protection gear for the state, Nikkei Asian Review reported Thursday citing a state official. Earlier this month, BYD was granted a permit by the US Food and Drug Administration to export Chinese-standard N95 respirators to the US, along with dozens of other Chinese mask makers, according to a FDA document. The Shenzhen-based auto giant has offered medical supplies to 19 countries and regions along with China's official foreign aid. Daily output in its factory has exceeded 15 million masks and it is currently expanding the capacity at a speed of 1 million units each day, according to the report. A company representative said in Shenzhen Special Zone Daily that the move was in response to the Chinese government's offers of aid to other countries, now that it has the pandemic under control.