DEARBORN, Mich.—Ford and Uber are expanding a pilot program that offers rideshare drivers a lease option on Ford’s Mustang Mach-E models. The tests are being ran in San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The option allows drivers to lease a Mustang Mach-E for between one- and four-month time periods, depending on the location. The vehicle is delivered to the driver within two weeks, and they use the Ford Drive app to manage payments and service. Service and maintenance of those vehicles are conducted through dealers as well.
Ford Next and Uber initially launched the flexible lease pilot in 2022 in San Diego and are expanding the pilot program to three California cities. California is Uber’s leading North American market for EV uptake, with close to 10% of all on-trip miles completed in fully electric vehicles as of late 2022.
“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,” said Bill Knapp, who leads Ford Drive. “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.”
Ford Drive is an initiative of Ford Next, a division that incubates and launches new businesses that create value for Ford by complementing Ford products and creating new business models and customer experiences.
“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,” said Christopher Hook, Uber’s global head of sustainability.
Uber aims to be a zero-emissions platform in North America and Europe by 2030 and has pledged $800 million in incentives and resources to help drivers make the switch to electric vehicles.
Drivers of fully electric vehicles on the Uber platform in North America are eligible for the Zero Emissions incentive, which currently lets them earn an extra $1 on every Uber Rides trip (up to $4,000 per calendar year). In addition, the Mustang Mach-E is eligible for Comfort Electric, Uber’s premium zero-exhaust ride offering.
Ford is investing more than $50 billion in electric vehicles through 2026. As part of its Ford+ plan, Ford is working to deliver a 600,000 EV production run rate globally by the end of this year and 2 million globally by the end of 2026.
In May, Tesla and Ford announced that Ford EV drivers would be able to use Tesla’s Superchargers, which is a network of more than 12,000 chargers across the U.S. and Canada, doubling the number of fast-chargers available to Ford EV customers. The partnership will begin next spring.