Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi has revealed that the company aims to develop vehicles specifically for ride-sharing services with car manufacturers.
Khosrowshahi says the company is working with manufacturers on vehicles that have been optimized for city use, as well as ferrying passengers and conducting deliveries. Uber’s boss notes that vehicles with lower top speeds and seating areas where passengers can face each other are things the company is considering.
“I do think that top speeds, for example, that many cars have are not necessary for city driving that’s associated with ride-share,” Khosrowshahi said while speaking at an event hosted by The Wall Street Journal in Davos, Switzerland last week. “That can reduce the specs and if you reduce the specs you can reduce the ultimate cost.”
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While Uber failed to specify which car manufacturers it is working with, it has already committed to working with electric-vehicle manufacturer Arrival SA in the UK to build a vehicle focused on ride-hailing drivers. This comes as part of its plan to convert the fleet of vehicles its drivers use to electric by 2030 in many developed parts of the world.
The ride-hailing giant is also is also working on a new era of delivery vehicles. According to Khosrowshahi, it is considering making small two- and three-wheel delivery vehicles, noting that such vehicles “can get through traffic easier and have a much smaller footprint, both in terms of environmental but also traffic footprint than, let’s say, a car to go deliver groceries.”
