Former Tesla Executive Joins Uber to Lead Electric Transition

Former Tesla Executive Joins Uber to Lead Electric TransitionOn August 21st, Uber announced the hiring of Rebecca Tinucci, a former Tesla executive, to lead the company's electric transition. Tinucci, who previously helped Tesla open its charging network to other automotive brands, brings extensive experience that will support Uber's goal of having all trips and deliveries made by zero-emission vehicles globally by 2040

Former Tesla Executive Joins Uber to Lead Electric Transition

On August 21st, Uber announced the hiring of Rebecca Tinucci, a former Tesla executive, to lead the company's electric transition. Tinucci, who previously helped Tesla open its charging network to other automotive brands, brings extensive experience that will support Uber's goal of having all trips and deliveries made by zero-emission vehicles globally by 2040.

Tinucci will officially join Uber as Global Head of Sustainability on September 16th, reporting directly to Andrew Macdonald, the executive in charge of the company's ride-hailing business. She will oversee Uber's transition to a zero-emission platform, including eliminating unnecessary plastic waste in food delivery and using more sustainable packaging materials.

Macdonald, in an email to employees, stated that Tinucci's experience "will be incredibly valuable to our team at Uber. During her time at Tesla, Tinucci spearheaded charging station partnerships with carmakers like Rivian, Ford, and General Motors, which allowed owners of other brands to use Tesla's proprietary Supercharger network, expanding the company's revenue streams.

Alan Wexler, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at General Motors, described Tinucci as a highly effective leader, working with her to secure the Tesla charging agreement. He said, "Thanks to her and her team's efforts, electric vehicle owners now have broader access to reliable and renewable charging services."

To achieve its zero-emission goals, Uber is partnering with electric vehicle manufacturers, charging network providers, and multiple cities to make it easier and more affordable for its millions of rideshare drivers and delivery personnel to switch to electric vehicles. The company aims to achieve its zero-emission target in US, Canadian, and European cities by 2030 and has set a global target for 2040.

Currently, Uber has a long way to go in its electric transition. The company stated that as of the end of the first quarter of this year, only 8.2% of its rideshare trips were completed using zero-emission vehicles in the US and Canada, and 9% in Europe.

Tinucci led a team of around 500 people at Tesla who were responsible for the Supercharger network, a team that was significantly slashed during CEO Elon Musks broader round of layoffs. The layoffs, which came after a weak first-quarter sales performance, were a shock since Tesla had built an enviable charging business. Just a year prior to the mass layoffs, Tinucci had appeared onstage alongside Musk at Tesla's Investor Day event, one of only two female executives present. While Tesla re-hired some members of Tinucci's team within a few weeks, she herself did not return.

Tesla has also become a potential competitor to Uber. Investors are concerned about Teslas planned self-driving taxi prototype, which Musk expects to showcase at an event in October, potentially threatening Ubers business model of relying on freelance drivers to transport passengers.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has expressed no concern about Teslas competition. In an earnings call in August, he stated that Uber will be an "indispensable partner" to all self-driving car manufacturers.

In a statement, Tinucci said that Uber sits at the heart of multiple technologies that will "accelerate a more sustainable future." She said, "Electric vehicles, autonomous driving and robotics have the potential to dramatically reduce our overall emissions. "Uber is poised to be an accelerator in this transition.