BYD, a global company and China’s leading manufacturer of ‘new energy vehicles and power batteries’, has announced a multi-year partnership with
Uber (a US multinational transportation company that provides ride-hailing services, courier services, food delivery, and freight transport), with the aim of bringing 100,000 new BYD electric vehicles (EVs) onto the Uber platform across key global markets.
The two companies say they are starting in Europe and Latin America, and will expand to include markets across the Middle East, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, adding that by working together, they aim to ‘bring down the total cost of EV ownership for Uber drivers, accelerate the uptake of EVs on the Uber platform globally, and introduce millions of riders to greener rides’.
The companies said: “While Uber drivers are going electric five-times faster than private car owners, driver surveys show the price of EVs and availability of financing remain the key barriers to switching; and to support drivers going electric, the companies’ joint efforts may also include discounts on charging, vehicle maintenance, or insurance, as well as financing and lease offers — based on what works best for drivers in a given market.”
The two companies say they will also collaborate on future BYD autonomous-capable vehicles to be deployed on the Uber platform. “As the largest on-demand mobility and delivery platform in the world, Uber is well-positioned to bring autonomous vehicle technology to a global audience at scale.”
Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber’s CEO, added: “As the largest global agreement of its kind, we are thrilled about the benefits this partnership will deliver for drivers, riders, and cities. When an Uber driver makes the switch to an EV, they can deliver up to four-times the emissions benefits compared to a regular motorist, simply because they are on the road more. Many riders also tell us their first experience with an EV is on an Uber trip, and we are excited to help demonstrate the benefits of EVs to more people around the world.”
Stella Li, executive vice president of BYD and CEO of BYD Americas, concluded: “We are elated to join forces with a global leader like Uber to not only accelerate the transition to electric vehicles but also to make green transportation accessible and affordable for everyone. This collaboration marks a new era in the electrification of urban mobility, and we look forward to seeing our cutting-edge EVs become a common sight on the streets of cities worldwide.”