Uber signs deal with UK's Arrival to develop 'purpose-built' electric car

Uber has revealed a partnership with a UK van and bus-maker to produce an electric car that aims to be "purpose-built" for its drivers.

The ride-hailing app said the Arrival Car would be developed with input from those who would use it and aim to go into production in late 2023.

Key priorities for the car include affordability, comfort and range, Uber said, as its current 70,000 UK drivers complete more than 31,000 miles annually.

Arrival, which went public earlier this year, and Uber said that in addition to the work on the Arrival Car they would also explore a strategic relationship in key markets overseas including the United States.

The UK is on course to ban the sale of new conventionally-powered cars from 2030 as petrol and diesel emissions are targeted in the battle against climate change.

Uber plans to be a fully electric mobility platform in London by 2025, and across North America and Europe by 2030.

The company, which gave its existing UK drivers workers' rights including the minimum wage in March after it lost a Supreme Court case, has raised more than £135m to help its drivers in London upgrade to an electric vehicle by 2025.

It announced last week plans to recruit an additional 20,000 drivers.

Jamie Heywood, Uber's regional manager for northern and eastern Europe, said: "Our focus is now on encouraging drivers to use this money to help them upgrade to an electric vehicle, and our partnership with Arrival will help us achieve this goal."