Ride-hailing giant Uber is teaming up with electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Tesla to accelerate the adoption of electric cars among its drivers in the United States. The collaboration aims to support Uber’s ambitious goal of achieving emission-free operations in U.S. and Canadian cities by the year 2030.
In an exclusive statement to Reuters on Tuesday, Uber revealed its strategy to address the primary concerns voiced by its drivers—ownership costs and convenient charging infrastructure. As part of this initiative, Uber is offering drivers special incentives of up to $2,000 for the purchase of Tesla’s popular electric models, the Model 3 and Model Y. These incentives are in addition to existing federal tax credits.
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Andrew Macdonald, Senior Vice President of Mobility and Business Operations at Uber, emphasized the company’s commitment to overcoming obstacles hindering drivers from transitioning to electric vehicles. Macdonald stated, “We know from listening to Uber drivers that the cost of ownership and access to convenient charging are the top two barriers preventing them from going electric, and we are working with Tesla to tackle both of these issues.”
As part of the collaboration, drivers can utilize a referral code to directly purchase vehicles from Tesla’s factory or available inventory, with the promotion valid until March 31. To qualify for the incentives, drivers must complete 100 trips by May 15 after purchasing and receiving their electric vehicle.
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Uber has also initiated test drive events at Tesla stores to further promote the electric vehicle experience. Additionally, the ride-hailing platform has begun sharing data with Tesla on driver activity, starting with New York City, to identify areas where charging infrastructure is most needed.
According to Uber, as of the previous year, there were 74,000 active EV drivers across the United States, Canada, and Europe. The collaboration with Tesla represents a significant step toward Uber’s larger goal of fostering sustainability within its operations and reducing its environmental impact.
