BYD and Uber announces global partnership

On Wednesday, BYD and rideshare giant, Uber,  announced a partnership deal to provide 100,000 electric vehicles for Uber's drivers. This multiyear partnership, which the companies claim to be the largest of its kind, will commence in Europe and Latin America, with plans to expand to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and various countries in the Middle East.

By looking at the portfolios of Uber and BYD, we can see that both companies are leaders in the electric vehicle industry: Uber operates the world's most extensive on-demand EV network, while BYD is a global leader in EV production. By collaborating, they aim to reduce the total cost of EV ownership for Uber drivers, speed up the adoption of EVs on the Uber platform worldwide, and offer millions of riders greener transportation options.

The partnership between the two companies is not a simple fleet sale from BYD to Uber. Instead, depending on the country, Uber's independent drivers will benefit from favorable financing or leasing options for BYD electric vehicles, along with discounts on recharging, maintenance, and insurance, effectively lowering the barrier to entry of EV ownership for Uber drivers.

In addition, the two companies will also work together on future BYD autonomous-capable vehicles for the Uber platform. Though autonomous vehicles and driverless taxi services have been around in the USA for some time, this partnership could mean that these services will also reach other parts of the world.

If you may remember, Uber entered the Philippines back in 2014 and remained in the country until it shut down its operations in 2018. Meanwhile, BYD and ACMobility are conducting pilot testing of BYD EVs in the ridesharing industry with Grab Philippines, another ridesharing giant active in the country. Will this partnership bring about an acceleration of EV adoption worldwide? Only time will tell.

BYD vehicles are available for sale in the Philippines. Check out their awesome lineup of hybrids and EVs on AutoDeal.com.ph and click the “Get Quote” button to connect with a sales agent right away.