Uber has announced a groundbreaking deal with Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD to bring 100,000 electric cars to its global fleet. The partnership aims to incentivize Uber drivers to switch to electric vehicles by offering 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 move 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,” said a joint statement from Uber and BYD. They also plan to integrate BYD’s self-driving technologies into Uber’s platform.
Earlier this year, Uber announced collaborations with Tesla and Kia to promote EV adoption among its drivers. The recent tariffs on China-made EVs have prompted BYD and other Chinese EV makers to expand their production facilities outside of China, with BYD setting up manufacturing plants in Turkey, Thailand, Hungary, and plans for Mexico.
BYD, backed by renowned investor Warren Buffett, is the world’s second-largest EV company after Tesla. The partnership with Uber signifies a significant step towards a greener and more sustainable future for ride-hailing services.
