BYD and Uber to partner up

Uber may be gone from our shores but that has not stopped it from seeking out new growth opportunities elsewhere.

The firm has announced that it is partnering with BYD, the world's leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles and power batteries. This new partnership will bring 100,000 new BYD vehicles into the Uber platform across key global markets, beginning in Europe and Latin America. The partnership is expected to offer drivers best-in-class pricing and financing for their BYD vehicles and will eventually be expanded to include markets across the Middle East, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Uber is said to currently hold the most widely available on-demand electric vehicle network in the world, and BYD is a global leader in electric vehicle production. Both companies aim to bring down the total cost of electric vehicle ownership for Uber drivers and to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles on the Uber platform globally while introducing millions of riders to greener rides. Both firms state that they may additionally explore offering discounts on charging, vehicle maintenance, or insurance, as well as financing and lease offers, depending on what may be best suitable in different markets, to support drivers going electric.

The two firms will additionally collaborate on future BYD autonomous-capable vehicles to be deployed on the Uber platform. BYD states that Uber is well-positioned to bring autonomous vehicle technology to a global audience at scale, as it is the currently the largest on-demand mobility and delivery platform in the world.