MEXICO CITY, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Chinese automaker BYD

is seeking an extension of tariff relief for

electric vehicle imports from Mexico's government, an executive

told newspaper Reforma in an interview published on Friday, as

the company aims to build a plant in the country.

A decree exempting some 15% to 20% of tariff payments on EVs

imported from countries with which Mexico does not have a trade

agreement is set to expire at the end of the month, as President

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador leaves office.

"The proposal to the Mexican government is to see the

possibility of, through our investment in a new plant, having

the conditions to extend the decree," country head Jorge Vallejo

told Reforma.

BYD launched sales in the Mexican market last year,

importing its vehicles from abroad.

It has since announced plans to build a plant in the country

to push out up to 500,000 cars a year for the local market.