Uber and Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD have announced a groundbreaking deal that aims to bring 100,000 electric vehicles to Uber’s global fleet of cars. The partnership will offer drivers incentives to switch to electric cars, including discounts on maintenance, charging, financing, and leasing.
The multi-year agreement will first be rolled out in Europe and Latin America, with plans to expand to the Middle East, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. This announcement comes at a time when EV sales have slowed globally, and Chinese car makers are facing higher import charges in key markets like the US and the European Union.
“The companies aim to bring down the total cost of EV ownership for Uber drivers, accelerating the uptake of EVs on the Uber platform globally, and introducing millions of riders to greener rides,” the two firms said in a statement. They also plan to integrate BYD’s self-driving technologies into Uber’s platform.
Earlier this year, Uber announced a partnership with Tesla to promote EV adoption among its drivers in the US and revealed plans to develop a purpose-built EV with Kia. The move to work with BYD signals Uber’s commitment to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint.
BYD, backed by veteran US investor Warren Buffett, is the world’s second-largest EV company after Tesla. The company has been expanding its production facilities outside of China, with recent deals to set up manufacturing plants in Turkey, Thailand, Hungary, and Mexico.
The partnership between Uber and BYD represents a significant step towards a greener future for ride-hailing services and the automotive industry as a whole. With the global shift towards electric vehicles, this collaboration could pave the way for more sustainable transportation options for both drivers and riders.
