New Red Line and Orange Line subway cars tentatively scheduled to hit MBTA tracks sometime between 2018 and 2020 could be manufactured by a corporation owned by China’s government.

CNR MA Corporation, a government-owned joint venture, bid $566.6 million on the subway cars contract, the Boston Globe reports. On Wednesday, the state Department of Transportation board of directors is expected to vote on the contract, which calls for 284 new Red and Orange Line cars added to the MBTA system.

As currently drawn up, the contract mandates the construction of a Springfield assembly plant, the Globe reports. An announcement from Governor Deval Patrick is expected on the matter Tuesday afternoon in Springfield.

Meanwhile, CNR MA Corporation’s business operations have already started coming under fire. State Rep. Byron Rushing (D – South End), according to the Globe, has asked for assurances from MassDOT officials that the T’s top bidder does not have a history of violating workers’ human rights.

Governor Patrick told reporters that all contract bidders were “thoroughly vetted.” MassDOT’s board of directors vote, slated for Wednesday night, will either approve or reject CNR’s contract bid.

The T hopes to roll out new Orange Line cars by winter 2018 and new Red Line cars by fall 2019.

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