Uber hits the pocket: A new fuel fee is coming in one country, will it be here too?

Driving in gasoline, diesel and hybrid vehicles will be charged an additional fee of five cents per kilometer. The measure will be in effect from April 15 to June 8, Uber announced on Monday. All revenue from the fee will go directly to drivers to cover increased fuel costs, the spokesperson confirmed. The company clarified that each passenger in the shared Uber Pool ride will have to pay their own fee.

Incentive for electric vehicles and moves by the competition

Rides in all-electric vehicles will be exempt from this fee and can be booked through the Uber Electric option, formerly known as Uber Green. This option excludes hybrid and non-electric vehicles, as users are encouraged to choose more sustainable forms of transportation.

The move comes after rival company DiDi announced its own temporary fuel charge moreć 18. ož Their compensation is identical, but it is also charged for driving in electric vehicles. Other delivery companies, such as DoorDash and Uber Eats, have introduced similar programs to help their delivery drivers. DoorDash, in cooperation with the union, has provided assistance payments that are funded directly by the company at no additional cost to customers. Uber Eats introduced an identical program for two months starting April 6.

The context of price growth and union support

The introduction of the fee came weeks after transport and delivery companies announced more they began to introduce fuel surcharges or aid packages to cope with rising prices. The price of unleaded petrol in Australia reached a peak of almost 260 cents per liter at the end of March, while at the time of the announcement of the Uber charge it had fallen to below 220 cents per liter in most cities.

In March, Uber is more implemented a permanent increase in the price of driving. A company spokesman said at the time that these changes were planned earlier and were not a direct response to the spike in fuel prices.

The Transport Workers Union (TWU), which works with ride-sharing companies on benefits for drivers, welcomed Uber’s fee. The union’s national secretary, Michael Kaine, said ride-hailing drivers are struggling with skyrocketing fuel costs and that Uber’s action recognizes this and provides significant relief. Kaine added that he will continue to work with Uber and other platforms to achieve fair wages and conditions for workers as soon as possible.