Following its blockbuster announcement that it had purchased 100,000 Tesla Model 3s, Hertz announced Wednesday morning that it will be partnering with Uber.
In an early morning tweet and press release, Hertz said it would provide up to 50,000 Model 3s to drivers of the ride-hailing network by 2023.
The company added that if the program is successful, that number could expand to 150,000 during the next three years.
https://twitter.com/Hertz/status/1453323091195482114
According to the details of the deal, Uber drivers can rent the Model 3s from Hertz starting as soon as November 1 2021 in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Washington, DC.
The company says a nationwide expansion will take place in the following weeks.
Hertz interim CEO and former Ford CEO Mark Fields said the partnership is an important step in its shift to becoming an environmentally friendly company.
“Today’s partnership with Uber is another major step forward in Hertz becoming an essential component of the modern mobility ecosystem and executing on our commitment to being an environmentally forward company,” said Mark Fields, Hertz interim CEO. “We are creating the new Hertz and charting a dynamic, new course for the future of travel, mobility and the auto industry.”
The program could prove extremely popular among Uber drivers. A recent survey of more than 6,000 drivers using internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles on the network showed nearly half (47%) were interested in an EV as their next car.
Hertz Tesla Model 3 rental rates already appearing on reservation website [Update]