Committed to London

London. A city that keeps moving through the good, the bad – and the uncertain. And through tough times, we remain committed to supporting riders and drivers across London. 

Here are just a few of the initiatives we’ve been working on: 

Since January 2019 when we launched our Clean Air Plan, we’ve been on a journey towards ensuring all cars in the app in London are fully electric by 2025. Since then, over 1.9 million trips have been in electric vehicles (EVs), which equates to over 9 million zero emission miles. And not only that, so far over £100 million has been raised to support drivers in upgrading to a fully to electric vehicle. 

Of course, helping drivers upgrade to an EV is just one step. That’s why we’ve partnered with bp Chargemaster to secure discounts for drivers when using bp’s Polar Plus charging network. Drivers also have access to a growing network of dedicated rapid charging hubs in London.  Our commitment to London is at the forefront of a goal to bring emissions from Uber trips globally down to zero by 2040.

We want drivers and riders to feel safe during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why we have distributed over 1.6 million free face masks and over 100,000 cleaning sprays and hand sanitiser kits across the UK and Ireland. Throughout 2020, we will continue our partnership with Unilever and distribute additional PPE kits so that every driver can access the PPE they need for free. 

Through the Uber Pro programme, we have provided drivers access to a range of benefits including free education with The Open University, with over 900 drivers enrolled in courses since February 2020. Drivers also have access to savings on fuel and car maintenance, as well as 24/7 breakdown assistance.

Drivers have told us they enjoy choosing if, when and where to drive, but that they want more security and peace of mind for any changes life throws at them. Our Partner Protection programme provides AXA insurance free to drivers, which includes comprehensive cover for sickness, injury and parental leave. In the first half of 2020, the AXA scheme paid out 45,000 days of lost earnings to drivers and delivery partners in the UK.

We are excited to launch Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, a new way to travel around London that combines the simplicity and innovation of Uber with Thames Clippers’ long-standing tradition of safe, reliable travel on the River Thames. There are never more passengers on board any boat than the number of available seats, so every passenger has plenty of space to relax or catch up on work. Just purchase your ticket in the Uber app, turn up at the pier, and you’re ready to sail. You’ll be surprised how much of your journey across London can be covered by boat!

We are proud of the work that we’ve done so far, but know that there’s always more to do. We’re committed to listening, learning and improving to become the best partner we can to this incredible city. 

Thank you, London.