Uber Plugs-In With Renault, Nissan to Electrify Europe

Renault and Nissan, within their Alliance, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Uber with the aim of electrifying its customers’ journeys in Europe. The companies will now explore a partnership to provide partner drivers on the Uber App with affordable electric vehicles in European markets, notably in the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands and Portugal.

It follows a successful pilot between Nissan and Uber in the UK. AutoInformed notes the absence of Mitsubishi, the third member of the Alliance, which is in the process of exiting or being squeezed out of the EU. Uber has faced severe regulatory and market challenges in the EU.

The MoU between the companies was announced today as part of Uber’s announcement to become a zero-emission mobility platform. By 2025, 50% of kilometers driven on Uber’s platform in aggregate across seven European capitals (Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Lisbon, London, Madrid and Paris) will be in electric vehicles, it’s claimed. In practice this means that riders will be able to select a zero-emission vehicle in cities representing 80% of Uber European business by the end of 2021.

Under the MoU, the companies will now explore how working together can accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in European cities. This comprises efforts to:

• Offer partner drivers on the Uber App access to Renault and Nissan electric vehicles:  Renault ZOE and Nissan Leaf and future new EVs from both companies.
• Extend the United Kingdom pilot into France by the end of 2020, with a view to scaling the program to the Netherlands, Portugal, and other markets.
• Launch joint marketing and education plans to promote the electric vehicle offers and benefits to Uber’s partner drivers and offer test drives to allow them to experience the cars.

“Today, we capitalize on our competitive advantage: an attractive EV-offer that contributes to large scale electric mobility roll-out. We have worked closely with local authorities over the past years to propose solutions to the growing challenges facing cities: transportation, decarbonization and air quality. With the signature of this MoU we aim to join our forces to accelerate the movement,” said Gilles Normand, SVP, Electric Vehicles & Mobility Services, Groupe Renault.