Shanghai (ZXZC)- BYD may give consideration to exporting its self-made face masks as the overseas demands are rising with more coronavirus confirmed cases reported outside China, according to a local media, citing Li Wei, with BYD's president's office.

The Shenzhen-based automaker has now been known by the world with its new identity—the world’s largest face mask producer. After the courageous decision announced a month ago, BYD has witnessed its mask capacity soar up to 5 million units per day. Besides, the number is keeping growing at 300,000 to 500,000 units on a daily basis.

The company currently has 130 mask-producing lines, of which 30 are in Changsha, and it intends to increase the number to 200, said Li Wei. It is roughly estimated that BYD's combined mask capacity will amount to 7.69 million units per day once the 200 lines become fully operational.

The solid mask supply should significantly rely on BYD's independent R&D of mask production line, which took the company only seven days to bear the first fruit.

“An assembly line of mass-producing machine is composed of around 1,300 parts, such as gears, chains, rollers and trolley wheels,” said Li Wei, “of which 90% parts are made by ourselves.”

Moreover, SAIC-GM-Wuling and GAC Group, the other two automakers involved in mask production, have seen their daily capacity reach 2 million units and 1 million units respectively, according a local report.

The BYD-branded masks were initially used to help the frontlines fight against coronavirus and satisfy its inner demands over work resumption. With the epidemic being effectively contained, the automaker recently teamed up with Shenzhen's local pharmacies to roll out to the average citizens 15 million masks at a fair price (photo source: BYD's WeChat account).