Uber Partners with Refex Green Mobility to Deploy 1,000 Electric Vehicles by 2026

Uber is rolling out a fleet of 1,000 electric cars across major Indian cities through a new partnership with Chennai-based Refex Green Mobility.

The two companies aim to get these EVs on the road by 2026, focusing on high-demand markets like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad.

Aditya Kapoor, who runs Uber's supply and electrification efforts in India, says this move fits with the company's plans to improve its environmental performance. "We've been talking about going green for years. Now we're putting money where our mouth is."

For Refex, which operates under the eVeelz brand, this isn't its first rodeo. The company already operates about 1,300 electric four-wheelers for both business clients and regular consumers.

"Adding another thousand cars makes sense for us," says Refex Group's Chief of Staff Sachin Navtosh Jha. "More EVs means less pollution, and that's something our customers actually care about."

The deal comes as ride-hailing apps scramble to become more environmentally responsible. Uber's global headquarters has promised 100% zero-emission rides in the next 15 years. However, it remains to be seen how they would accomplish this task in a country like India—where charging stations remain scarce.

Refex brings some much-needed local expertise to the table. As a subsidiary of Refex Industries, they've been navigating India's complicated EV landscape for years.

There are no outright details about the financial arrangement between both the companies, but it looks like Uber has negotiated a leasing arrangement with Refex.

For everyday riders, this means more chances to choose electric over gas, though Uber hasn't yet confirmed whether these green rides will come with any special pricing or features.