Uber and Kia Europe have announced a milestone electric mobility partnership that will accelerate the adoption of advanced zero-emission battery electric vehicles across Europe, making urban areas cleaner and quieter. The partnership allows Kia to provide its high-tech range of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to Uber drivers with special offers, including the e-Niro and e-Soul. In addition, it would enable Uber to become a leading provider of electrified vehicles to the ride-hailing sector.
Uber targets dramatic reductions in carbon emissions, with plans to become a zero-emission mobility platform across Europe by 2030. The company has outlined ambitions to operate over 100,000 BEVs across its European platform by 2025. As part of this goal, half of all the kilometres driven by Uber drivers by 2025 in seven major European cities – Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Lisbon, London, Madrid, and Paris – will be undertaken in zero-emissions vehicles.
As part of the partnership’s wider remit, Kia and Uber will develop joint marketing and educational campaigns to promote BEVs to Uber drivers further. Kia will also propose test drives to allow drivers to experience the brand’s all-electric zero-emissions vehicles first-hand. With a real-world driving range of 454 kilometres (282 miles) for the 64kWh model, the Kia e-Niro combines full BEV zero-emissions functionality with practicality thanks to its sleek crossover body style. The cabin fuses a modern design with a generous and robust interior space along with cutting-edge connectivity and infotainment tech to complement the zero-tailpipe emissions powertrain. Charging the e-Niro’s lithium-ion polymer battery up to 80 per cent takes only 54 minutes using a 100kW direct current (DC) fast charger.
“This exciting partnership with Uber heralds another important milestone for BEVs and sustainable zero-emission mobility in Europe”, said Jason Jeong, President at Kia Europe. “Making sure that the air is clean in a congested city and town centres – as well as ensuring these spaces are quiet and free from vehicle noise pollution – is at the very top of our agenda. This important partnership with Uber is a significant step forward in realising that goal, and we are very proud to be able to offer our advanced BEV range, starting with the e-Niro and e-Soul models.”
Anabel Diaz, Regional General Manager for EMEA, Uber, said: “We’re proud to be working with Kia to make sure drivers across Europe have access to best-in-class electric vehicles at an affordable price. Zero-emissions mobility is more than just an aim for us – it’s a necessity. As Europe continues to reopen, we are committed to playing our part in cleaning up urban transport, so this partnership is crucial in our efforts to advance the electrification of our platform across Europe by 2030.”
Source: Kia
