Uber today announced the launch of its global flagship sustainability product, Uber Green, in Colombo. This will enable riders to book environment friendly rides with just a few taps on their Uber app. With an aim to accelerate its transition to zero emission mobility by 2040 in Sri Lanka, Uber plans to expand on-demand electric vehicle (EV) rides with Uber Green in the island nation.

The option of choosing Uber Green will be available to riders who can now request a green ride across the city, including rides to and from the Bandaranaike International Airport. The new service was announced by Uber’s Chief Financial officer, Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah, who is visiting the country.

Commenting at the event, Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah, Chief Financial Officer, Uber, said, “We are committed to our goal to electrify every ride on our platform by 2040 and we are excited to bring Uber Green to Sri Lanka – making it the 17th country where our riders can make a climate conscious choice by opting for Green. We believe in the power of partnerships and are determined to become allies of cities and governments as they seek to combat climate change and pollution through sustainable mobility.”

Speaking at the launch, Kaushalya Gunaratne, Country Manager, Uber Mobility – Sri Lanka, said, “We are delighted to bring Uber Green to Sri Lanka in continuation with our efforts to bring the best of Uber to our country. As the EV ecosystem evolves, we plan to expand this service to more cities, and demonstrate our commitment to making electric vehicle rides accessible to more Sri Lankans.”

Uber has committed to become a zero-emissions mobility platform by 2030 in Europe and North America, and globally by 2040. EV drivers on Uber are going electric five times faster than the general public and in turn, delivering up to 4 times the emissions benefits compared to regular motorists, highlighting the potential for the ridesharing industry to accelerate the transition to electrification. The Science Based Targets Initiative has also approved Uber’s near and long-term science-based emissions reduction targets, making us one of the first 30 US-based companies to have such targets approved.

How to book an Uber Green Trip:

• Open the Uber app and enter your destination in the ‘where to’ box
• Select Uber Green at the bottom of the screen
• Review the booking details including the price for the trip and tap Confirm Green
• Enjoy your ride

About Uber

Uber’s mission is to create opportunity through movement. We started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get access to a ride at the touch of a button? More than 25 billion trips later, we’re building products to get people closer to where they want to be. By changing how people, food, and things move through cities, Uber is a platform that opens up the world to new possibilities. Since launching in Sri Lanka in 2015, Uber rides are now available in 5 key Sri Lankan districts to provide mobility options on two, three and four wheelers through its range of products.