Uber has agreed to collaborate with a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer

The American digital transportation and delivery company Uber and the Chinese car manufacturer BYD announced on Wednesday a multi-year partnership that aims to bring 100,000 new electric vehicles to the roads in Europe and then in Latin America.

The partnership will guarantee Uber drivers affordable prices and financing for BYD’s electric vehicles, and after the initial European and Latin American phase, it is expected to include the Middle East, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, the companies announced.

To support the transition to electric vehicles, Uber and BYD will offer drivers discounts on vehicle maintenance, battery charging, financing, and leasing, depending on the market.

– When an Uber driver switches to an electric vehicle, their harmful emissions results can be up to four times better than those of a ‘regular’ driver, simply because they are on the road more – said Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi.

The companies added that they will work together to integrate BYD’s vehicles and their autonomous driving technologies into Uber’s transportation platform.

BYD’s American competitor Tesla is expected to unveil its robotaxi in October as it seems to want to make a turnaround after its electric vehicle sales fell in the first two quarters of this year.

The Chinese company took the crown of the largest electric vehicle manufacturer in the world from Tesla last year, but the American company has since regained the top spot, Reuters notes.

In January, Uber announced that in collaboration with Tesla, it is promoting its electric vehicles on the platform in the U.S. as it aims to become a zero-emission platform in American and Canadian cities by 2030.