Uber Could Soon Offer Teslas After Obtaining A Fleet Of Them
Image via Uber
Earlier this week, it was announced that Hertz ordered 100,000 Tesla cars, worth US$4.2 billion, to add to its growing fleet. The purchase marked the largest-ever one-time order of electric vehicles to date.
Now, it’s been revealed that half of the order will be made available to Uber drivers via a rental program starting next week. The 2021 Tesla Model 3 cars will initially be available in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Washington DC, with plans for the initiative to be rolled out to other states in the near future.
Uber said this partnership will help it move towards its goal of zero carbon emissions, and that it will also benefit drivers by saving them money on gas. They will be enrolled in the company’s Green Future Program, which rewards them from US$1 more per trip up to US$4,000 annually for transitioning to an EV.
According to CNBC, Tesla rentals will began at US$334 per week, though prices are expected to taper off to US$299 or even lower over time.
Not all drivers will be able to get their hands on the swanky automobile, however, as the first batch of vehicles will only be awarded to those with a 4.7-star rating and above, and a minimum of 150 trips completed.
“While this partnership is a step forward to advance electrification on the Uber platform, it’s important to note that owning an electric vehicle is still too often more expensive than a traditional gas-powered vehicle,” said Andrew Macdonald, SVP of Mobility and Business Operations at Uber.
“This is a critical challenge that we all must continue tackling together with government leaders through smart policy to bring the cost of EV ownership in line with or below gas-powered cars.”
[via CNBC, cover image via Uber]
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