Arrival partners with Uber to develop fully-electric car by 2023
Arrival, the British-based electric bus and van manufacturer, has announced a partnership with Uber to develop an affordable, purpose-built electric vehicle.
With plans for the vehicle to enter production in Q3 of 2023, the final designs of the ‘Arrival Car’ will be released at the end of this year.
The announcement is another step towards Uber’s commitment of becoming a fully electric mobility platform in London by 2025 and by 2030 across North America and Europe.
Arrival said the new vehicle will join its previously announced commercial products, the Bus and Van, to provide cities with a multi-model zero-emission transportation ecosystem that they require in order to meet their sustainability goals over the coming years.
The company also said it will work with Uber drivers in the design process over the coming months to ensure the Arrival Car reflects the needs of professional drivers and their passengers.
Tom Elvidge, SVP of Arrival Mobility UK, said: “We are confident that electrifying ride-hailing vehicles will have an outsized impact on cities, and we are keen to support drivers as they manage this transition. Arrival Car will be designed around drivers’ needs to create a vehicle that is affordable, durable and desirable.
“We have a great partnership with UPS to create a best-in-class electric delivery vehicle, and we hope to replicate that success with Uber as we develop the best possible product for ride hailing that elevates the experience of the passenger and improves drivers’ health, safety and finances.”
Jamie Heywood, Uber’s regional general manager for Northern and Eastern Europe, added: “As our cities open up we have an opportunity to make sure that urban transport is cleaner than ever before. Uber is committed to helping every driver in London upgrade to an EV by 2025, and thanks to our Clean Air Plan more than £135m has been raised to support this ambition. Our focus is now on encouraging drivers to use this money to help them upgrade to an electric vehicle, and our partnership with Arrival will help us achieve this goal.”
Following the launch of Uber’s Clean Air Plan in London two years ago, more than £135 million has been raised to support drivers with the cost of switching to a fully electric vehicle. Uber stated that its focus is now to encourage drivers to apply for EV Assistance under the Clean Air Plan which will help clean up urban transport and drive a mass market for EVs.
Uber has also launched its ‘Uber Green’ service in London, giving passengers the ability to select a fully electric vehicle at no extra cost, while drivers pay a lower service fee. So far, more than 3.5 million trips have taken place in fully electric vehicles across London. The company has also been using Volkswagen’s fleet of electric vehicles to offer more sustainable transport options.
