The initiative will start in Europe and Latin America, and later expand to other regions including the Middle East, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, says Uber Investor.
This collaboration is part of Uber’s broader strategy to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles and reduce emissions, according to The Business Times. Could this be the move towards greener transportation?
Both companies are EV leaders in their respective categories: Uber with its incredible on-demand EV network, and BYD as a global leader in EV production. By working together surely this is the dream team of all teams! It couldn’t get much better than this could it?
According to Uber Investor they’ll be working together 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 ride.
The two companies 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, says Uber Investor.
“Uber and BYD share a commitment to innovate towards a cleaner, greener world, and I am excited to work together towards that future,” said Chuanfu Wang, Chairman and President of BYD.
“As the largest global agreement of its kind, we’re thrilled about the benefits this partnership will deliver for drivers, riders, and cities,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber. “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’re excited to help demonstrate the benefits of EVs to more people around the world.”
Cost is still among the biggest barriers when it comes to drivers transitioning to EVs., which is why Uber will provide drivers with pricing and financing for BYD cars on the Uber platform.
Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD and CEO of BYD Americas, also commented: “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.”
