UK-based EV startup Arrival
While Uber is well known, Arrival is not. In March the company debuted on stock exchanges the world over with the help of a SPAC merger. The company trades among other unproven EV startups, such as Nikola. Startups that have yet to produce a single vehicle. And yet unlike its peers, Arrival actually has orders to fulfill. United Parcel Service
"We have a great partnership with UPS to create a best-in-class electric delivery vehicle," said Tom Elvidge Arrival's Senior VP of Mobility, in a statement. "We hope to replicate that success with Uber as we develop the best possible product for ride hailing."
Both Arrival and Uber expect to announce their new vehicle's final design sometime before the end of the year, while the first model should come off the assembly line sometime in 2023.
Ultimately the goal of the partnership is to make a vehicle that appeals to as many Uber drivers as possible. The hope is to spur EV adoption and reduce ride-sharing's environmental impact, particularly in urban areas.
Looking at the vehicle's current renderings, it's clear that Arrival isn't designing some flying taxi for the future. According to Elvidge, the goal isn't to reinvent the electric vehicle but to make small incremental changes that can add up to create something new. Changes the company hopes will add up to a better ride-sharing experience for both drivers and their passengers.
Drivers will find being behind the wheel for hours on end far more bearable, thanks to the inclusion of ergonomic seats. Navigation and finding new riders should be more straightforward, thanks to a large horizontal display mounted within eyeshot of the steering wheel.
Meanwhile, passengers will surely appreciate the additional foot room afforded by the foldable front seat, as well as the illuminated cubicles and handrails.
Despite all these new features, Arrival's primary focus remains affordability. EV's are closer than ever to parity with their internal combustion counterparts, and yet the cheapest EV still costs more than the cheapest gas guzzlers and hybrid vehicles. Arrival hopes to mitigate production costs using so-called "micro-factories," which are highly automated facilities with a minimal footprint.
Arrival's plans remain fraught with risk. It's unproven whether these micro-factories can genuinely cut back on costs. And then there's a chance whatever comes off the assembly line won't appeal to enough drivers.
In the UK, at least, Uber is doing everything in its power to ensure its drivers switch from the pump to the plug in time for the vehicle's debut. Two years ago, the company launched its Clean Air Plan in the London area, intending to raise money to help drivers transition to fully electric cars. So far, the initiative has raised £135 million.
"Our focus now is on encouraging drivers to use this money to help them [drivers] upgrade to an electric vehicle and our partnership with Arrival will help us achieve this goal," said Jamie Heywood, Uber's Regional GM for Northern and Eastern Europe, in a statement.
Uber hopes every one of its London drivers will upgrade to an electric vehicle by 2025, with drivers in North America and Europe following suit by 2030.
No doubt the car Arrival and Uber produce together will have a part to play in reaching that goal.
