BYD and Uber join forces in global push for electric vehicles
Chinese automotive giant BYD and Uber have announced a multi-year strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the global transition to electric vehicles. The manufacturer's electric cars will be transporting passengers throughout Europe.
The partnership plans to introduce 100,000 BYD electric cars to the Uber platform in key markets worldwide.
The companies' cooperation is set to begin in Europe and Latin America and then expand to the Middle East, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The main goal is to reduce the total cost of owning electric vehicles for Uber drivers, accelerating the adoption of these vehicles on the platform.
Uber and BYD join forces
According to a company statement, "Both companies are EV leaders in their respective categories: Uber has the most widely available on-demand EV network in the world, and BYD is a global leader in EV production." By collaborating, the companies aim to lower Uber drivers' overall costs, thereby accelerating the usage of electric vehicles on the Uber platform worldwide.
According to information provided by the companies, "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." The companies emphasise that "In addition to their affordability, BYD vehicles have lower costs of maintenance and repair, and are well suited to rideshare due to the wide range of models, superior battery performance, and excellent build quality."
Support for drivers and future plans
To support drivers transitioning to electric vehicles, the companies state that "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."
Both companies also plan to collaborate on future autonomous BYD vehicles to be deployed on the Uber platform. As stated in the announcement, "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."
