Ford Next brings Ford Drive flexible lease pilot with Uber. As per the new pilot program Ford Drive, Uber drivers in the United States can lease Mustang Mach-E vehicles for a specific time period. The initiative is a part of Ford+ and Ford Next aiming to fulfil both companies’ emission and electrification goals. Ford has partnered with local dealers to provide the vehicles to drivers. Uber drivers in San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles can now sign up on the Uber Marketplace. Uber is also providing program rewards and incentives to encourage drivers to convert to EVs.
To deliver a new lease option for rideshare drivers going electric, Ford Next is collaborating with Uber. The Ford Drive is a pilot program that allows for flexible leases for Ford Mustang Mach-E models. It has already launched in San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Today marks the delivery of the Ford Driver’s Los Angeles vehicles.
Ford Next, a branch that develops and introduces new businesses that enhance Ford’s products and generate fresh business ideas and customer experiences for the company.
With Ford Drive, rideshare drivers can choose a Mustang Mach-E for a lease period of 1 to 4 months, depending on their location. Within 2 weeks the vehicle is delivered to the driver, and they can manage payments and services through the Ford Drive app in android and iOS.
The Ford Drive team works with local dealers in each city to purchase a set of Mustang Mach-Es for their fleet. The dealers will also take care of servicing and maintenance.
Ford and Uber have begun a flexible lease pilot for Uber drivers, offering over 150 Mustang Mach-Es for drivers in San Diego and now three additional California cities in 2022. California ranks as Uber’s top North American market for EV adoption, with nearly 10% of all trips completed using fully electric vehicles by late 2022.
The Mustang Mach-E has roomy trunk and seats for Uber drivers taking riders on short trips around the city or to the airport. With the BlueOval Chargeâ„¢ Network, drivers in North America can access an ever-growing inventory of over 85,000 charging plugs. This is the largest public charging network in North America, ensuring that drivers will never be left without a place to recharge.
Ford has announced its plan to invest over $50 billion towards the development of electric vehicles by 2026. As a part of their Ford+ initiative, Ford is striving to achieve a global production rate of 600,000 EVs by the end of this year and two million vehicles by the end of 2026.
Will Knapp, CEO of Ford Drive, said, “We understand uptime and ease of use are critical to every rideshare driver. As more of them make the switch to electric vehicles, we’re building the Ford Drive program around their unique needs. We’re glad that the initial feedback on this venture has been so strong, and it’s exciting to learn from these driver experiences to explore solutions supporting Uber and Ford’s shared electrification goals.â€
With Ford Drive flexible lease pilot with Uber, the latter also offers incentives for drivers to switch to electric cars. With this, they can have four times more impact on reducing emissions compared to regular cars. This fact was revealed by Uber’s SPARK report.
Global Head of Sustainability, Uber, Christopher Hook, said: “Climate change is the most urgent challenge of our time, and we must work together in order to tackle it. As we continue marching toward our zero-emissions goal, Uber is thrilled to partner with Ford to provide an attractive and affordable option for leasing a leading EV and help drivers lower running costs and emissions. It’s a win for drivers, their riders, and the communities where they live.â€
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Uber has announced an ambitious plan to become a completely eco-friendly platform in North America and Europe by 2030. To help drivers transition to driving electric vehicles, the company pledges to provide $800 million in incentives and other resources.
Electric vehicle drivers using the Uber platform in North America can now take advantage of the Zero Emissions incentive. This program rewards these drivers with an extra $1 on each ride they give (up to $4,000 annually).
It’s just another way to show our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and promoting sustainable transportation options. In addition, the Mustang Mach-E is eligible for Comfort Electric, Uber’s premium zero exhaust ride offering.
Source: Ford