EXCLUSIVE: Most popular Uber cars in Australia revealed

The most popular cars used by Uber drivers in Australia have been revealed for the first time – though the taxi competitor won’t say how old they are, or how many are electric.

Ride-share service Uber has revealed the five most popular cars used by its drivers in Australia – and they’re all available with some form of hybrid power.

Approximately 3.8 million Australians frequently use Uber, and an estimated 74,000 cars are currently registered with the app.

The Toyota Camry (above) is the most popular model, followed by the Toyota Corolla, Mitsubishi Outlander, Mazda 3, and Toyota RAV4.

The Toyota cars are available with ‘closed-loop’ hybrid power, the Mitsubishi offers a plug-in hybrid option, and the Mazda is available with a 24-volt “mild-hybrid” system.

Uber would not disclose the average age of its cars, or what percentage of its fleet uses conventional hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV), or fully-electric propulsion.

However, a spokesperson said the decision to cut service fees for zero-emission cars last year had “quadrupled” uptake.

This was likely from a very low base, as the relative scarcity compared to petrol cars means it remains difficult to book fully-electric vehicles in most Australian cities.

An anecdotal survey of 50 Ubers in Sydney suggests the majority are Toyota hybrids – which don’t need to be plugged in and which recharge when on the move – while plug-in hybrid models are extremely rare on the fleet.

According to an industry lobby group, Uber cars now outnumber traditional taxis by more than three-to-one in Australia.

While Uber recently bought 50,000 Tesla electric cars in the USA – in partnership with rental giant Hertz – it has not announced similar plans for Australia.

Late last month Uber admitted it misled Australian consumers to dissuade them from cancelling trips. You can read that story here.

The top five most popular cars used by Uber drivers in Australia can be viewed below.

Top five most Uber makes and models in Australia:

• Toyota Camry
• Toyota Corolla
• Mitsubishi Outlander
• Mazda 3
• Toyota RAV4

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