Kia Europe and Uber have announced a milestone electric mobility partnership that will accelerate the adoption of advanced zero-emission battery electric vehicles across Europe, making urban areas cleaner and quieter.
The partnership will see Kia offer its high-tech range of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) – including the e-Niro and Soul EV – to Uber drivers with special offers, making the company a leading provider of electrified vehicles to the ride hailing sector.
New mobility partnerships are part of Kia’s ground-breaking Plan S strategy, revealed earlier this year, which will see eco-friendly models take a 40% share of all Kia sales globally by the end of 2030. As part of the Plan S roadmap, Kia will realise a global annual sales target of 880,000 units for all electric vehicles and 1.6 million units for eco-friendly cars by the end of the decade.
Kia’s development focus is on popularizing BEVs – a core element of the Plan S transformation strategy – and plans to reinforce its global product line-up with the introduction of 11 new BEV models by 2026, seven of which will be developed on the advanced Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). These new models will include a range of passenger vehicles, SUVs and MPVs across several segments, each incorporating industry-leading technology for long-range real-world driving and high-speed charging.
Uber is also targeting dramatic reductions in carbon emissions, with plans to become a zero-emission mobility platform across Europe by 2030. The company has outlined ambitions to operate over 100,000 BEVs across its European platform by 2025. As part of that goal, half of all the kilometres driven by Uber drivers by 2025 in seven major European cities – Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Lisbon, London, Madrid and Paris – will be undertaken in zero-emissions vehicles.
As part of the partnership’s wider remit, Kia and Uber will develop joint marketing and educational campaigns to further promote BEVs to Uber drivers. Kia will also offer test-drives to allow drivers to experience the brand’s all-electric zero-emissions vehicles first-hand.
With a real-world driving range of 454 kilometres (282 miles) for the 64kWh model, the Kia e-Niro combines full BEV zero-emissions functionality with practicality thanks to its sleek crossover body style. The cabin fuses a modern design with a generous and robust interior space along with cutting-edge connectivity and infotainment tech to complement the zero-tailpipe emissions powertrain. Charging the e-Niro’s lithium-ion polymer battery up to 80 percent takes only 54 minutes using a 100kW direct current (DC) fast charger.
“This exciting partnership with Uber heralds another important milestone for BEVs and sustainable zero-emissions mobility in Europe”, said Jason Jeong, President at Kia Europe. “Making sure that the air is clean in congested city and town centres – as well as ensuring these spaces are quiet and free from vehicle noise pollution – is at the very top of our agenda. This important partnership with Uber is a significant step forward in realising that goal and we are very proud to be able to offer our advanced BEV range, starting with the e-Niro and e-Soul models.”
Anabel Diaz, Regional General Manager for EMEA, Uber, said: “We’re proud to be working with Kia to make sure drivers across Europe have access to best-in-class electric vehicles at an affordable price. Zero-emissions mobility is more than just an aim for us – it’s a necessity. As Europe continues to reopen, we are committed to playing our part in cleaning up urban transport, so this partnership is crucial in our efforts to advance the electrification of our platform across Europe by 2030.”
Kia and Uber will further strengthen the strategic alliance by offering high-tech BEVs in 20 European markets as demand grows.
