Nissan, Renault and Uber join to electrify European journeys

Renault, Nissan and Uber will explore a partnership in strategic European countries, all aiming to increase EV adoption and expansion of infrastructure.

That’s planned under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) all have signed.

Partner drivers on the Uber App may be provided with affordable EVs in European markets, such as the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands and Portugal.

This follows a successful pilot between Nissan and Uber in the UK.

The MoU comes as part of Uber’s announcement to become a zero-emission mobility platform.

By 2025, 50% of kilometres driven on Uber’s platform in aggregate across seven European capitals (Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Lisbon, London, Madrid and Paris) will be in EVs.

This will mean 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 EVs and the electric ecosystem in European cities.

These include efforts to offer partner drivers on the Uber App access to Renault and Nissan EVs, and extending the UK pilot into France by the end of 2020 and possibly later into the Netherlands, Portugal, and other markets.

Joint marketing and education plans to promote the EV offers and benefits to Uber’s partner drivers and offer test drives to allow them to experience the cars will be launched too.

“This MoU with Uber is an acknowledgement of our ability to conquer new markets and to support professionals in their energy transition,” Groupe Renault EV and mobility services senior vice president Gilles Normand says.

“We have worked closely with local authorities over the past years to propose solutions to the growing challenges facing cities – transportation, decarbonisation and air quality. With the signature of this MoU we aim to join our forces to accelerate the movement.”

Nissan Europe sales and marketing vice president Jordi Vila says that by teaming up with Uber in the UK, Nissan has already been able to increase the awareness and adoption of zero-emission vehicles. “We are looking forward to exploring how to roll that out further in Europe.”