Hertz and Uber have agreed to a new exclusive partnership to make up to 50,000 Teslas available by 2023 for drivers to rent when using the Uber network. The companies say this partnership is the largest expansion of electric vehicles on a mobility platform in North America and one of the largest globally. Starting Nov. 1, drivers can rent Teslas from Hertz through this program in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Washington, D.C. – with a nationwide expansion planned in the coming weeks.
Earlier this week, Hertz announced its most significant investment to offer the largest EV rental fleet in North America. This includes an initial order of 100,000 Teslas by the end of 2022 and new EV charging infrastructure across Hertz’s global operations.
Uber and Hertz have partnered since 2016 to provide drivers with vehicle rental options. With this partnership, Hertz will kick off the program by providing up to 50,000 vehicles by 2023 exclusively to drivers. If successful, the program could expand to 150,000 Teslas during the next three years. Hertz pointed out that these ambitions could be affected by factors outside of its control, such as semiconductor chip shortages or other constraints.
Participating drivers receive a preferred weekly rate for Hertz rentals, which includes insurance, basic maintenance and unlimited miles. The Hertz-Uber offering can also make it easier for drivers to source a vehicle, the companies say, by eliminating the long-term commitments that buying or leasing a car often requires.
