South Africa: Uber, a transportation company that provides e-hailing services will soon introduce electric vehicles (EVs) in South Africa. The 200 BYD electric cars will begin with its pilot programme in Johannesburg by next year in 2025.
Earlier, in the month of July this year, Uber announced that it will roll out 100,000 new BYD electric vehicles onto its platform in key markets, making it available worldwide.
The announcement by Uber marks its commitment towards green mobility and reinforces its partnership with the BYD to accelerate the transition of the country to electric vehicles (EVs).
BYD is a Chinese-owned electric vehicle manufacturing company that has maintained its presence in South Africa for more than a year. The company competes with several other renowned and prominent electric vehicle manufacturers such as Tesla. It aims to introduce affordable, fast and sustainable EV options for South Africa.
Recently, BYD vehicle with Uber branding in Cape Town, displayed their project as part of the Earthshot Prize Week.
Earthshot Prize is a global initiative that was founded by Prince William to support the environmental innovation. Uber is a founding partner of the Earthshot Prize that showcased the BYD vehicles to underline its commitment towards sustainability.
Spokesperson for Uber stated that this initiative will pilot in Johannesburg in 2025. It will be supported by the plans for nationwide rollout that will mark a significant step towards a greener future for ride-sharing in South Africa.
This great move is part of a larger global strategy that was announced by Uber in July and includes rolling out 100,000 BYD EVs in key international markets.
It is a strategic partnership between Uber and BYD that aims to reduce the barriers to EV ownership by leveraging the extensive ride-sharing platform of Uber.
Moreover, the companies are offering competitive pricing along with phenomenal financing options to make EV ownership more attainable for Uber drivers in South Africa.
Notably, The City of Cape Town, eThekwini and Golden Arrow have already started exploring the electric mobility by adding electric buses to their public fleets.
The new Uber-BYD initiative is one of the largest electric mobility projects announced in South Africa. The project indicates a promising future for widespread EV adoption in the country.