Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility and Udrive have formalized a partnership that will add 500 hybrid electric vehicles to Udrive’s shared mobility fleet over the coming year, marking a notable expansion of hybrid options in the UAE’s on-demand car rental market. The initiative brings BYD’s New Energy technology into wider public use and reflects the ongoing push toward lower-emission transport under the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 strategy.
Udrive has already deployed 150 BYD hybrid units, with the larger rollout planned in stages. The additions represent a significant shift within the company’s fleet of more than 1,700 vehicles, giving users broader access to hybrid mobility at a time when the UAE is steadily encouraging alternatives to traditional combustion engines. Rather than centering the announcement on brand promotions, the partnership is better understood as part of a gradual, infrastructure-driven transition in how cities manage short-term mobility and vehicle emissions.
The current fleet mix includes 100 units of the BYD Song Plus, a hybrid SUV positioned for both city and intercity use, and 50 units of the BYD Qin Plus, a hybrid sedan that focuses on energy efficiency and safety features commonly favored in dense urban environments. While these models expand the choices available to Udrive customers, their presence also highlights the wider industry trend toward hybrid systems as a bridge between today’s fuel infrastructure and future full-electric adoption.
Hertz B2B Leasing played an intermediary role in establishing the collaboration, with the signing of a 500-unit expansion memorandum of understanding reinforcing the long-term nature of the agreement. Representatives from Udrive, Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility, and Hertz emphasized their alignment with the UAE’s broader sustainability objectives, though the practical outcome is a more incremental increase in hybrid mobility options rather than a sweeping transformation of the market.
The remarks from executives across all three companies underscored recurring themes in the region’s current mobility conversation: the appeal of lower-emission driving, user interest in newer in-vehicle technology, and the need for flexible leasing frameworks that support fleet transitions. While the statements expressed optimism about an eventual all-electric future, the immediate impact of this partnership lies in increasing the visibility and accessibility of hybrid vehicles within the everyday rental ecosystem.
The memorandum’s formal signing brought together leadership from Udrive, Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility, and Hertz, signaling the stakeholders’ shared intent to scale hybrid and electric mobility in a measured, commercial context rather than through rapid, speculative change.
