Uber has partnered with Tesla to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles among its drivers in the United States. This collaboration aligns with Uber's ambitious goal of achieving emission-free operations in U.S. and Canadian cities by 2030.
Incentivizing EV Adoption: The Uber-Tesla Strategy
Uber, which uses Tesla’s API for a range-based trip planner, offers its drivers exclusive purchase incentives of $2,000 for Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y vehicles to incentivize this shift towards greener transportation. This initiative not only complements existing federal tax credits but also addresses drivers' concerns regarding the affordability and accessibility of electric vehicles.
Andrew Macdonald, Uber's Senior Vice President of Mobility and Business Operations, highlighted the significance of this partnership, telling Reuters, "We know from listening to Uber drivers that the cost of ownership and access to convenient charging are the top two barriers preventing them from going electric." By collaborating with Tesla, Uber aims to tackle these challenges head-on, making electric vehicles a more feasible option for its drivers.
Under this initiative, drivers can use a special referral code to purchase Tesla vehicles directly from the factory or from available inventory, subject to availability. To qualify for the incentives, drivers must complete the purchase by March 31 and fulfill a requirement of completing 100 trips by May 15.
Future Strategies and Sustainability Goals
In addition to financial incentives, Uber has also started hosting test drive events at Tesla stores, offering drivers firsthand experience with Tesla's EVs. This allows drivers better to understand the benefits and features of electric vehicles, potentially influencing their decision to switch to a more sustainable mode of transportation.
However, this green journey is not without its challenges. The recent announcement by Hertz to sell off about 20,000 Teslas and revert to gas vehicles highlights the complexities and evolving nature of the automotive and transportation industries. This decision by Hertz underscores the need for continued innovation, adaptability, and resilience in pursuing sustainable transportation solutions.
Another critical aspect of this collaboration involves Uber sharing data with Tesla regarding the charging needs of its drivers. Focusing initially on New York City, this data exchange aims to identify areas where charging infrastructure is most needed, particularly in regions where drivers frequently operate. This strategic approach ensures that charging solutions are effectively deployed, addressing one of the primary barriers to EV adoption among Uber drivers.
As of last year, Uber reported having approximately 74,000 active EV drivers across the United States, Canada, and Europe. This partnership with Tesla represents a significant step forward in increasing that number, as it not only makes EVs more accessible to drivers but also contributes to the broader goal of reducing carbon emissions in urban areas.
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In a move that’s sure to excite those with larger families, Tesla has started teasing the return of the seven-seat configuration for the Model Y. In a new marketing email sent out to customers recently, Tesla explicitly highlights the vehicle’s spaciousness.
“Ready for anything with long range, seating for up to seven, and enough room for everyone’s gear.”
The seven-seat Model Y was initially offered in late 2021, but it hasn’t been available since Spring 2023. The return of the new variant will be an addition that many have been waiting for, as the next vehicle with that much passenger space in the line-up is the Model X, starting at almost double the price.
First-Gen Model Y Third Row
The original seven-seat Model Y was extremely popular in the Asia-Pacific and European markets, and it still sold fairly well in North America despite differences in preferred vehicle sizing and spaciousness. It offers additional seats for larger families with young children, but space in the third row is minimal.
The seven-seat variant makes the Model Y more competitive against other three-row SUVs on the market. The video below features the seven-seater, first-generation Model Y.
Power Reclining Third Row?
The refreshed Model Y was launched with power-reclining second-row seats, a huge plus for practicality and ease of use. The power-reclining second-row seats are extremely popular with families and are very helpful, as you can control them from the front screen rather than needing to open the rear doors.
Tesla is likely to integrate power-reclining seats into the third row and potentially keep them for the second row as well. With the second row sliding forward and backward for easy entry, as well as allowing the second and third rows to fold flat for additional cargo room when needed.
Launch Date and Price
Tesla’s tease of the seven-seat variant is likely just the start. With recent sightings of the Model Y Performance variant hitting the Nürburgring, it seems Tesla has a lot in store for this summer. If you’ve been waiting for the seven-seat variant, it seems like it’ll be just a few short months away at this rate.
While we haven’t seen any production samples or other details regarding dates yet, Tesla previously priced the seven-seat option at an additional $2,000 USD ($3,000 CAD). The seven-seat option will likely only be available on the Long Range AWD and Long Range RWD variants, not the Performance model, similar to the first-generation Model Y.
In Elon’s flurry of posts on X about FSD yesterday, he also revealed the date that another moment of peak science fiction would be occurring — June 28th. Tesla expects to conduct the first-ever self-delivery, where a brand-new Model Y will depart from the production line and arrive directly at its new owner’s home without any human intervention.
Imagine ordering a vehicle, and a few days later, rather than needing to pick it up, it simply arrives in your driveway and notifies you via an app that it has arrived. That’s no longer the talk of science fiction; it is quite literally something that is likely to happen this month.
Expect a Model Y Delivery in Austin
Considering everything Tesla has done so far, we’re fairly certain that the first self-delivered vehicle will be a Model Y in Austin, in the same geo-fenced area where Tesla’s Robotaxi will operate. FSD is highly optimized for the Model Y, and it’ll take some time for those optimizations to trickle down to the rest of the fleet. It’s not clear if FSD performs better on the Model Y because it’s the most popular vehicle and, therefore, Tesla has the most data for it or if Tesla explicitly chose to focus more on their most popular vehicle.
Tentatively, June 22.
We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift.
First Tesla that drives itself from factory end of line all the way to a customer house is June 28.
While a car driving itself is something truly different from what other manufacturers offer, there are also numerous strategic advantages for Tesla to do so. This includes drastically reducing last-mile delivery costs by minimizing the need for car carriers, delivery drivers, and even delivery personnel at your local Tesla center. For customers, it could mean a faster, more flexible delivery method - and one absolutely unforgettable welcome to Tesla ownership.
We recently took a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of vehicles delivering themselves to customers. While it’s all positive for Tesla, there are some potentially negative sides to it as well.
A Futuristic Glimpse
When you step back and look at it, Self-Delivery is a logical extension of Unsupervised FSD and the Robotaxi network in general. Self-deliveries are expected to run on the same software stack that powers the Model Ys currently roaming Austin’s streets autonomously, which means there is little for Tesla to do other than enable specific instructions for self-delivery during the final vehicle configuration steps.
Given Elon’s note that the dates could shift, this could easily be moved to early July; however, either way, it seems like we’re just weeks away from this monumental event, which will further reduce the cost of Tesla vehicles.
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