Uber (UBER.N) announced on Thursday that it will provide $1,000 in credits to select commuters in the U.S. and Canada who forgo their cars for five weeks in favor of public and other transport services. This initiative is part of Uber’s ongoing efforts to increase business and reduce emissions.
For several years, Uber has championed the adoption of environmentally friendly electric vehicles and has committed $800 million to support its driver partners’ transition to EVs by 2040. As part of this commitment, Uber has partnered with Hertz (HTZ.O) to offer Tesla (TSLA.O) cars as rental options for its drivers in the U.S. and Europe, although the proportion of EVs in Uber’s total fleet remains unspecified.
The “One Less Car” initiative will select up to 175 car owners in Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., Miami, San Francisco, Toronto, and Vancouver based on certain eligibility criteria. The program, starting on July 22, will provide participants with $500 in Uber app credits, a $200 voucher for car rental or carshare services, and $300 for alternative transportation modes such as public transit.
A similar initiative launched by Uber in Australia last year showed that commuters predominantly turned to walking, cycling, and ride-sharing after giving up their cars. This move aligns with the expectations of robust tourist activity and travel this summer from various transport operators, including major U.S. airlines.
According to Uber, the U.S. has 233 million private vehicles, with approximately 80 million of them driven less than 10 miles a day on average.