SANTA FE, NM — Electric vehicle manufacturer GreenPower Motor Company today announced an agreement with the New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) to establish operations in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, a small community along the U.S.-Mexico border about 20 miles northwest of El Paso, Texas.
Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with facilities in Southern California and West Virginia, GreenPower manufactures and distributes all-electric, purpose-built, zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles serving the cargo and delivery market, shuttle and transit markets, and the school bus sector.
The new 135,000-square-foot facility in Santa Teresa will serve as the company’s base for North American operations and its U.S. corporate headquarters. The move is expected to generate more than $200 million in economic impact for New Mexico over the next 10 years and create more than 340 jobs. The company plans to start setting up operations at the facility in Q1 2026 and begin production by June 1, 2026.
Fraser Atkinson, GreenPower CEO, told IEN the company plans to manufacture both the Type A Nano Beast and Type D Beast school buses as well as the Mega Beast school bus at the new plant. The company will also make its commercial line of Class 4 all-electric vehicles. GreenPower's long-term focus in the region will also include its vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology and charging systems.
The Type A Nano Beast school bus has a 118 kWh battery, a range of up to 140 miles and a 24-passenger capacity. The Type D has a 194 kWh battery, 150-mile range and capacity for 90 passengers. The Mega Beast has a 387 kWh battery, a 300-mile range, and the potential for greater uphill climbing power and V2G energy storage, according to the company's website.
GreenPower is the only electric vehicle OEM that manufactures both an all-electric, purpose-built, zero-emission Class 4 Type A and the larger Type D school bus, according to Atkinson.
The company will receive a $5 million Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) award from the state and $4.6 million in job training incentive funds from the state's Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP). The company also qualified for a $1.36 million Rural Jobs Tax Credit (RJTC) and $3.65 million in New Mexico’s High-Wage Jobs Tax Credit program.
Santa Teresa's Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) designation had a significant impact on the company’s decision.
"A key factor in making the decision was Santa Teresa’s Foreign Trade Zone designation, which impacts how tariffs are applied and paid," Atkinson said. "The FTZ allows GreenPower to streamline customs procedures and cost-effective import and export operations. Most importantly, it allows the company to take financial advantage of the designation related to inventory, parts and distribution."
GreenPower uses contract manufacturing for parts and components outside of the U.S. Atkinson said the Santa Teresa FTZ provides GreenPower with a unique competitive advantage over other electric school bus manufacturers.
The designation also provides access to the North American Development Bank (NADBank), a financial institution established and capitalized equally by the U.S. and Mexico to finance environmental infrastructure projects along the border.
In 2025, GreenPower worked with EDD to launch the state’s first all-electric, zero-emission school bus pilot project at two Las Vegas public schools and a Santa Fe charter school. The ongoing two-year pilot program supports New Mexico’s Energy Transition Act, which aims to transition the state toward a 100% zero-carbon electricity supply by 2045.
“The electric school bus pilot project was an important first step in bringing GreenPower manufacturing and their high-quality jobs to New Mexico,” said EDD Cabinet Secretary Rob Black. “The real-world data and insights we are gaining from the pilot project will help inform New Mexico’s electric school bus roll-out and specifications, ensuring that fleets are safe, efficient and tailored to the unique needs of local districts.”
GreenPower will offer dealer-level pricing to the state for its Class 4 all-electric, purpose-built, zero-emission commercial vehicles. The selection includes box trucks, refrigerated trucks, passenger vans, buses, utility trucks and stakebed trucks.
