Uber has announced a deal to add 100,000 electric vehicles (EVs) manufactured by China’s BYD to its global fleet.
The two companies plan to offer incentives to Uber drivers to switch to electric cars, including discounts on maintenance, charging, financing, and leasing.
This multi-year agreement will initially be implemented in Europe and Latin America, before expanding to the Middle East, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The announcement comes at a time when global EV sales have slowed, and Chinese car manufacturers face higher import tariffs in markets like the US and the European Union.
In a joint statement, the companies said they 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.”
They also plan to integrate BYD’s self-driving technologies into Uber’s platform.
Earlier this year, Uber collaborated with Tesla to promote EV adoption among its drivers in the US and announced plans to develop a purpose-built EV with South Korean car manufacturer Kia.
Recent tariff increases on China-made EVs by the US, the European Union, and other major markets are designed to protect domestic car industries.
In response, BYD and other Chinese EV manufacturers are expanding production facilities outside China.
In July, BYD signed a $1 billion deal to establish a manufacturing plant in Turkey, which will have an annual production capacity of up to 150,000 vehicles and is expected to create around 5,000 jobs by the end of 2026, according to Turkish state news agency Anadolu.
Additionally, BYD recently opened its first EV plant in Southeast Asia, located in Thailand, with an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles and an anticipated creation of 10,000 jobs.
At the end of last year, BYD announced plans to build a manufacturing plant in Hungary, marking its first passenger car factory in Europe, which is expected to create thousands of jobs.
The company also has plans to establish a manufacturing plant in Mexico.
BYD, backed by US investor Warren Buffett, is the world’s second-largest EV company, following Tesla, which is led by Elon Musk.
Source-BBC
