Uber Boosts Fleet Efforts With 100,000-Vehicle Deal

Uber Technologies Inc. is teaming up with BYD to provide 100,000 electric vehicles to its drivers on the ride-hailing company’s platform, in a major deal.

Uber and BYD said in a statement Wednesday that the partnership will start in Europe and Latin America and expand to the Middle East, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The alliance bolsters Uber’s efforts to electrify its fleet of vehicles, an initiative that CEO Dara Khosrowshahi warned earlier this year was off track.

It’s also a big boost for BYD, which has been one of the world’s fastest-growing automakers in recent years.

The expansion has been largely driven by its climb up the sales ranks in China’s massive car market, and now the company is expanding abroad in countries where its brand is less well-established.