Uber, the American ride-hailing and delivery company, has partnered with Chinese automaker BYD to bring 100,000 new electric vehicles to its platform. The initiative will start in Europe and Latin America, with plans to expand to other regions like the Middle East, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The partnership aims to address the financial barriers that often deter drivers from switching to electric vehicles. Uber and BYD will offer various incentives, including discounts on vehicle maintenance, battery charging, financing, and leasing options, depending on the market.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi emphasised the positive environmental impact of this partnership, stating that Uber drivers who switch to electric vehicles can significantly reduce their emissions compared to those driving conventional vehicles.
In addition to making electric vehicles more accessible to drivers, Uber and BYD plan to collaborate on integrating BYD's autonomous driving technology into Uber's platform. This move aligns with Uber's goal of becoming a zero-emission platform in American and Canadian cities by 2030.
This partnership comes at a time when Tesla, BYD's American rival, is preparing to unveil its own robotaxi in October, following a decline in its electric vehicle sales in the first two quarters of the year. Last year, BYD surpassed Tesla as the world's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, but Tesla has since regained its top position.
