Uber is collaborating with Tesla to encourage its drivers in the United States to use electric vehicles as part of its efforts to become emission-free in US and Canadian cities by 2030.
As part of the initiative, Uber is providing its drivers with exclusive incentives of up to $2,000 for the purchase of Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y, in addition to the federal tax credits. Andrew Macdonald, Senior Vice President of Mobility and Business Operations at Uber, said that the cost of ownership and the lack of convenient charging are the top barriers for Uber drivers to switch to electric vehicles.
To address this, Uber is working with Tesla to offer drivers a referral code to purchase vehicles directly from Tesla’s factory or from available inventory. Drivers must purchase and receive the vehicle before March 31 and complete 100 trips by May 15 to be eligible for the incentives. Uber has also started sharing data with Tesla on where its drivers require charging infrastructure the most, starting with New York City.
Last year, Uber had 74,000 active electric vehicle drivers in the United States, Canada, and Europe.