The electric vehicle manufacturer reported that these would be located in Bahia and Rio de Janeiro.

Chinese electric car maker BYD said it plans to have two research centers in Brazil, one in Bahia and one in Rio de Janeiro.

Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes said Thursday he was in talks with BYD, which is building a factory in Camaçari, to "bring all of its R&D to Rio de Janeiro."

On Thursday night, the company issued a statement saying it "reaffirms its commitment to Brazil's sustainable development."

"The company will create an automotive research and innovation center in Bahia to transform the state into a leading technology hub, the Silicon Valley of South America," the automaker said in the statement.

BYD emphasized that it is also "exploring the possibility of establishing another research and development center for other business areas in Rio de Janeiro."

In addition to selling cars in Brazil, the automaker produces electric buses and solar energy components in Campinas and batteries in Manaus.

BYD did not say when it might decide to create a second research center in Brazil or detail what its goal would be.