Uber and BYD looking to introduce thousands of driverless cars in Britain

Uber and Chinese car manufacturer BYD have announced a new partnership which will bring more than 100,000 new electric vehicles with driverless technology to Europe and Latin America.

BYD’s self-driving technology will be introduced to Uber’s ride-hailing platform – and could lead to thousands of autonomous vehicles in the UK.

The two companies will collaborate on future BYD autonomous-capable vehicles. As the largest on-demand mobility and delivery platform in the world, Uber says it is well-positioned to bring autonomous vehicle technology to a global audience at scale.

Following the announcement, Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, said: “As the largest global agreement of its kind, we’re thrilled about the benefits this partnership will deliver for drivers, riders, and cities.

“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."

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Uber has already pledged to make all its vehicles in London electric by the end of 2024.

This forms part of its strategy to achieve net zero emissions by the end of the decade.

Although the Uber and BYD joint announcement will see the introduction of more autonomous vehicles, this is the latest developments regarding the growth of electric Chinese vehicles.

In June 2024, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealed the success of the EV industry in the UK.

Electrified vehicle demand outpaced the overall market, accounting for 42% of new cars registered in the month.

Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) uptake increased by 31.4% year-on-year, to achieve a 14.5% market share, while plug-in hybrids (PHEV) grew 12.4% to take 8.9% of registrations.

Battery electric vehicle (BEV) volumes, meanwhile, were up 18.8%, resulting in an overall market share of 18.5%.

BYD introduced itself to the UK market in 2023, and is viewed as a cheaper alternative for drivers looking to buy an EV.

The Atto 3, for example, starts from around £35,000 while the Dolphin is available from £25,000; and the Seal can be purchased from £33,000.