UBER and BYD, an electric car maker, have today partnered to bring 100,000 new BYD electric vehicles onto the Uber platform across key global markets beginning first in Europe and Latin America, then expand to Middle East, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
With the deal, Uber and BYD aim to bring down the total cost of EV ownership for Uber drivers, accelerate the uptake of EVs on the Uber platform globally, and introduce millions of riders to greener rides.
“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.
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. 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.
To support drivers going electric, the 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.
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.
“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.”
In 2023, Uber partnered with Waymo to make the Waymo Driver available to more people via the Uber platform starting in Phoenix. The deal brought together Waymo’s world-leading autonomous driving technology with the massive scale of Uber’s ridesharing and delivery networks.
This integration launched with a set number of Waymo vehicles across Waymo’s newly expanded operating territory in Phoenix, and included local deliveries and ride-hailing trips. The deal made it possible for Uber users to experience the safety and delight of the Waymo Driver on both the Uber and Uber Eats apps. Riders can hail a Waymo vehicle directly through the Waymo One app.
The deal with BYD is similar to Waymo’s aiming to make Uber a leader in human-operated ridesharing, and the pairing of Waymo technology with BYD’s all-electric fleet to reach even more people.
“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,” said Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD and CEO of BYD Americas.