Ford has launched a pilot that can give Uber drivers entry to versatile leases on Mustang Mach-E fashions in three California cities.

The pilot program, referred to as Ford Drive, launched Thursday in San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles. It’s an initiative of Ford Subsequent, a division inside Ford that incubates and launches new enterprise that align with Ford’s objectives.

The partnership is according to Uber’s $800 million dedication to serving to drivers on its platform change to zero-emissions autos in North America and Europe by 2030. Uber has already partnered with automobile rental corporations like Hertz, Zevvy and Hive to supply inexpensive and versatile EV leases to its ride-hail drivers, however that is the primary time the corporate is working instantly with an automaker.

The upshot? With this pilot, Ford and Uber are successfully trialing slicing out the center man.

The pilot is launching in California, the state that represents Uber’s greatest market. It’s additionally the one state to move laws mandating that ride-hail journeys have to be carried out in zero-emissions autos by 2030. Uber seems to be making some headway in that vein, at the very least in California. By the tip of 2022, near 10% of on-trip miles in California have been accomplished in absolutely electrical autos, in accordance with Uber. Within the U.S. and Canada, that quantity is round 4.1%, in accordance with Uber’s sustainability report.

Uber and Ford first trialed an identical lease program in San Diego final yr. Uber drivers ended up leasing over 150 Mach-Es, and at present over 80% are rolling over into Ford Drive. Ford didn’t share what number of autos it’ll make accessible to Uber drivers as a part of the prolonged pilot.

Collaborating drivers will have the ability to select between one and four-month leases, relying on the situation. Charges will differ by metropolis, however they’ll look one thing like $199 per week for 500 miles or $249 per week for 1,000 miles, in accordance with a Ford spokesperson. If drivers find yourself utilizing extra miles, they’ll pay $0.20 per mile. Uber drivers also can qualify for the corporate’s zero emission incentive, which pays them $1 per journey carried out in an EV, as much as $4,000 yearly.

The Ford Drive group will work with native sellers to buy a fleet of Mach-Es particularly for leasing to Uber ride-hail drivers. Upon inserting an order, drivers can anticipate supply of the automobile inside two weeks. They’ll use the Ford Drive app to deal with funds and servicing, whereas native sellers deal with service and upkeep of the vehicles.

There is no such thing as a set finish date or public growth plans to different cities or prospects. Though this system is completely accessible by means of the Uber Market, it doesn’t prohibit Uber drivers from utilizing the Mach-Es for Lyft rides. Since many ride-hail drivers function on a number of platforms, they typically change between Uber and Lyft.