SEOUL, June 16 (Yonhap) — Kia Corp., South Korea’s second-largest automaker, said Wednesday it has partnered with the US-based chauffeur-driven transportation services company to supply its electric vehicles (EV) in Europe.
Kia said in a statement that the strategic partnership aims to boost the adoption of electric vehicles and expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure in major European cities.
Kia will provide discounted Niro and other electric vehicles to Uber drivers in 20 European countries.
The partnership is in line with Uber’s plan to operate more than 100,000 EVs in Europe by 2025, and become a carbon-neutral mobility platform by 2030.
Uber plans to move 50 percent of the company’s travel services cumulative total kilometers, across seven European capitals – Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Lisbon, London, Madrid and Paris – until 2025.
Kia aims to launch 11 all-electric models by 2026 and sell 880,000 units by 2030.
In April, its larger sister company, Hyundai Motor Co. , has also partnered with Uber to supply thousands of IONIQ Electric and Kona Electric to Uber drivers in Europe.
Hyundai and Kia together make up the world’s fifth largest car manufacturer by sales.
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