Uber in deal with China’s BYD to test electric cars

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/13/us-uber-byd-idUSKBN0M92KU20150313?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews?ref=www.36kr.com Uber Inc said on Friday it struck a deal with Chinese automaker BYD Co Ltd to test a fleet of electric cars for its drivers. The test program, which kicked off a few weeks ago in Chicago and could eventually expand to other cities, is the Silicon Valley startup’s first attempt to focus on an electric vehicle, said Uber spokeswoman Lauren Altmin.”We’ve seen interest in the program already from current and potential Chicago partners (drivers),” Altmin said. For BYD the deal with Uber could be a step toward the long-held goal of selling its cars to U.S. consumers. The company, whose name stands for “build your dream”, is a major automaker in China, but its e6 vehicle has thus far only been used in pilot programs in the United States. The e6 is larger than many other electric cars, however, and is being used in London by chauffer service Thriev. BYD gained Warren Buffett’s backing in 2009 and announced plans to sell its e6 electric car in the United States the following year. Since then, BYD’s U.S. business has focused mainly on electric buses for public transportation.

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