The taxi fleet will give BYD an opportunity to road-test its electric car and the lithium ion phosphate battery that powers it.

The company claims the E6 can travel up to 330 kilometers on one charge. It accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 14 seconds, with a top speed of 140 km/h. But the company has not subjected the car to public road tests -- until now.

BYD plans to start selling the E6 in the United States to fleet customers late this year. Company President Wang Chuanfu told the official Xinhua news agency that the e6 is priced at $40,000.

But it's not clear that the taxi company paid full price. A BYD spokesperson says the EV fleet is a "cooperative project" between BYD and the taxi company, which is based in Shenzhen.

She also confirmed that BYD still plans to introduce the e6 to the U.S. market late this year. BYD has established a sales headquarters in Los Angeles, and the company says the vehicle has passed battery safety tests in the United States.

BYD's first U.S. customers will be municipal and county fleets in Los Angeles.

The five-door hatchback -- which is 4,560 millimeters long, 1,822 millimeters wide and 1,630 millimeters in height -- seats five passengers.