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Hyundai Motor partners with Uber to offer discounted prices on electric cars for Uber drivers Mark Bursa Hyundai Motor has formed a strategic partnership with Uber in Europe that will offer Uber drivers discounted prices on its Ioniq Electric and Kona Electric, as well as future Hyundai electric vehicles. The agreement is another step in Uber’s plan to become a zero-emissions mobility platform by 2030. Last year it announced a similar arrangement with the Renault-Nissan alliance that will give discounted prices on cars such as the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe. Uber has set a target of making 50% of its total mileage across seven European capitals by electric vehicles by 2025. These cities – Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Lisbon, London, Madrid and Paris – will
make up 80% of Uber’s European business by the end of 2021. Customers in these cities will be able to select a zero-emissions vehicle when booking a trip. “Through this exciting partnership, we will utilise our leadership in electro-mobility to help Uber’s partner drivers make the switch to BEVs and help electrify their customers’ journeys in Europe,” said Michael Cole, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Europe. “This agreement also gives Hyundai the opportunity to showcase the benefits of our Ionioq Electric and Kona Electric models to an even wider range of people, as well as contribute to decarbonisation efforts in major cities across Europe.” Anabel Diaz, Uber Regional Manager for EMEA, said: “With our responsibilities to drivers, riders and cities in mind, we have made a series of ambitious
commitments to support drivers switch to electric vehicles, and this partnership will enable us to continue this momentum. Professional drivers such as those on the Uber app will be the early mass adopters of electric vehicles, which will help to drive the mass market in the years to come.” In the future, Hyundai and Uber intend to launch joint marketing and education plans to promote electric cars and their associated benefits to Uber’s partner drivers, as well offering test drives that will allow drivers to experience ZE vehicles first-hand. Hyundai Motor aims to sell more than 670,000 zero-emissions vehicles annually and to be among the top three EV manufacturers globally by 2025. In 2020, more than 13% of Hyundai cars sold in Europe, or nearly 60,000 units, were zero-emission vehicles.
Uber adds all-electric option to its central London ride-hailing service Uber customers in central London can request an all-electric vehicle instead of a regular petrol, diesel or hybrid car. The ride-hailing giant has launched a new service called Uber Green, operating initially in London’s Zone 1 travelcard area. It is the next step in Uber’s stated plan to be fully electric in London by 2025. Uber Green journeys must start in Zone 1, but destinations are unrestricted. In a statement, Uber’s European general manager Jamie Heywood said: “We continue to partner with drivers to help them make the switch to elec-
APRIL 2021
tric and today we are excited to start offering riders the option to select an electric vehicle at no extra cost, allowing everyone using Uber to play their
part in cleaning up urban transport.” Uber has raised funds to help drivers switch to EVs through a 15p per mile clean air surcharge on non-EV
journeys, a scheme introduced in January 2019, which has so far raised £125 million. This has so far allowed Uber to increase its EV fleet from 100 cars to 1,600. Uber has also set up an agreement with Renault-Nissan to give Uber drivers discounted prices on electric cars made by the group, including the Nissan Leaf. Nissan Fleet director Peter McDonald commented on the Uber Green deal, saying: “This is an excellent game-changing initiative to give consumers choice in London. I imagine many will watch this with interest.”
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