Uber and BYD have announced a significant multi-year strategic partnership that will see 100,000 BYD electric vehicles added to Uber’s ride-hailing platform, starting in Europe and Latin America.
The partnership, revealed on Wednesday, July 31, also includes the development of “autonomous-capable vehicles” specifically for Uber, aiming to enhance the ride-hailing experience through advanced technology.
This collaboration comes despite recent tariff increases on Chinese-made electric cars by both the European Union and the United States. The deal marks the largest global agreement of its kind for Uber, according to Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, who expressed excitement about the benefits this partnership will bring to drivers, riders, and cities around the world.
BYD’s Growing Global Presence
BYD, based in Shenzhen, has established itself as a dominant force in the Chinese electric vehicle market, surpassing Tesla in total vehicle production for the past two years. The company has been aggressively expanding its global footprint, including investments in manufacturing facilities abroad.
Last year, BYD exported over 240,000 vehicles to 70 countries and aims to more than double this number in the coming year.
The partnership with Uber will initially focus on Europe and Latin America but is set to expand to other regions, including the Middle East, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The vehicles to be provided under this partnership include models like the BYD Seal sedan, Seal U SUV, and Atto 3 SUV, which are currently featured on BYD’s Europe website.
Previous Collaborations with Ride-Hailing Giants
BYD has a history of collaboration with ride-hailing companies, having custom-built the D1 electric car for Chinese operator Didi in 2020. In the summer of 2022, BYD announced that 300 D1 vehicles had arrived in Brazil for Didi’s local subsidiary, 99.
Didi had previously acquired Uber’s China business in 2016 for $35 billion. In May 2023, Didi launched a joint venture with GAC Aion to mass-produce electric robotaxis, despite BYD’s stance that fully autonomous driving remains “basically impossible” and that such technology might be better suited to manufacturing.
This partnership signifies a new phase in the electrification of urban mobility, with both Uber and BYD committed to advancing cleaner, greener transportation solutions. Stella Li, executive vice president at BYD and CEO of BYD Americas, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, expressing optimism about seeing BYD’s cutting-edge electric vehicles become a common sight in cities worldwide.
Featured Image courtesy of Matthew Horwood/Getty Images
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