NAIROBI, Kenya- Uber has announced a deal to incorporate 100,000 electric vehicles (EVs) from China’s BYD into its global fleet.
This ambitious partnership aims to accelerate the adoption of EVs among Uber drivers, offering incentives that make the switch to electric more appealing and affordable.
Uber and BYD are committed to making the transition to electric vehicles as seamless as possible for their drivers.
The agreement includes a variety of incentives such as discounts on maintenance, charging, financing, and leasing.
This initiative aims to lower the total cost of EV ownership, making it easier for drivers to embrace greener rides.
The rollout will begin in Europe and Latin America, eventually expanding to the Middle East, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
“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 firms said in a joint statement.
This partnership comes at a crucial time as EV sales worldwide have slowed, and Chinese car manufacturers face increasing import tariffs in major markets like the US and the European Union.
These economic barriers have prompted companies like BYD to expand their production facilities outside of China.
In recent months, BYD has been busy setting up new manufacturing plants across the globe. In July, they announced a $1 billion deal to establish a factory in Turkey capable of producing up to 150,000 vehicles annually, creating around 5,000 jobs by the end of 2026.
They also opened a facility in Thailand, their first in Southeast Asia, which is expected to produce 150,000 vehicles per year and generate 10,000 jobs.
BYD’s expansion doesn’t stop there. They are also building a manufacturing plant in Hungary, marking their first passenger car factory in Europe, expected to create thousands of jobs.
Plans for a facility in Mexico are also in the pipeline, further cementing BYD’s position as a global EV powerhouse.
BYD, the world’s second-largest EV manufacturer after Tesla, is backed by veteran US investor Warren Buffett.
This partnership with Uber follows Uber’s earlier collaborations with Tesla to promote EV adoption in the US and their plans to develop a purpose-built EV with South Korean car giant Kia.
