Uber Offers $1,000 to Ditch Your Car for Five Weeks

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Uber announced on Thursday that it will offer $1,000 in credits to select commuters in the U.S. and Canada who choose to give up their cars for five weeks in favor of using public and other transportation services. This initiative is part of Uber’s ongoing efforts to boost business while promoting emission reduction.

For years, Uber has advocated for environmentally friendly practices, including the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). The company has committed $800 million to assist its driver partners in transitioning entirely to EVs by 2040. Recently, Uber has partnered with Hertz (HTZ.O) to provide Tesla (TSLA.O) cars as rental options for drivers in the U.S. and Europe, although the current proportion of EVs in its fleet remains unspecified.

Under the “One Less Car” initiative, Uber plans to select up to 175 car owners in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., Miami, San Francisco, Toronto, and Vancouver. Participants, meeting specific eligibility criteria, will receive $500 in Uber app credits, a $200 voucher for car rentals or carshare services, and $300 for use on alternative transportation modes like public transit.

Similar initiatives by Uber in places like Australia last year showed that participants mainly embraced walking, cycling, and ride-sharing after relinquishing their cars. This move by Uber aligns with broader trends as transport operators, including major U.S. airlines, anticipate a robust resurgence in travel and tourism activities this summer.

Uber highlighted that in the U.S., there are approximately 233 million private vehicles, with about 80 million driven less than 10 miles per day on average.