此举正值包括美国主要航空公司在内的交通运营商预计今年夏天游客活动和出行将十分活跃之际。Uber (UBER.US) said it will pay $1,000 to 175 drivers in seven U.S. and Canadian cities to not drive for five weeks.
Uber (UBER.US) said it will pay $1,000 to 175 drivers in seven U.S. and Canadian cities to not drive for five weeks, and instead use other means of transportation as part of a promotion called 'Drive Less, Earn More.'
Under the 'Drive Less' plan, Uber will select up to 175 eligible vehicle owners in Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Miami, San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver to participate in a five-week program starting July 22.
This comes as major U.S. airlines and other transportation operators expect a busy summer of travel and tourism.
According to the company, 'based on the average monthly car ownership cost in the United States, we will provide $1,000 to selected participants to use alternate transportation methods instead of relying on private cars. These options include public transportation, Lime electric bicycles and electric scooters that can be booked in the Uber app, as well as car rentals and shared rides.'
Vehicle owners will receive a $500 credit to redeem on the Uber app, $200 in rental or car sharing service vouchers, and $300 in vouchers for other transportation methods such as public transit.
A similar program launched by Uber in Australia last year showed commuters primarily chose to walk, ride bikes and use car sharing after giving up their cars.
It's worth noting that the ride-hailing and delivery platform has been pushing for eco-friendly electric cars and has pledged $800 million to help its driver partners switch to electric cars by 2040.
Uber has partnered with car rental company Hertz (HTZ.US) to offer Tesla (TSLA.US) rental and leasing services to its drivers in the United States and Europe, but it's unclear what percentage of its fleet are electric vehicles.
Uber says it wants to show people that switching to a lighter car lifestyle is possible, saves money, reduces emissions and contributes to more livable cities.
As of writing, Uber was up 0.38% pre-market. The stock has gained 15% year-to-date but has fallen from its high of $82.14 at the beginning of the year. While Uber's Q2 earnings report won't be released until early August, analysts are increasingly bullish on the company, with 20 of the past 26 EPS revisions being upward. Its competitor, Lyft (LYFT.US), has seen a similar trend, with 21 of the past 24 EPS revisions being upward.