Uber taps Mercedes exec as global head of electrification and sustainability

Andrew Cornelia, who has led the Mercedes-Benz high-power charging network in North America since June 2023, is joining Uber.

Cornelia said in a LinkedIn post that he’ll be Uber’s global head of electrification and sustainability, leading the transport company’s ongoing transition to electric and autonomous vehicles. Uber aims to have all its rides be zero-emissions by 2040. 

“With a global platform across Rides, Delivery, and Freight, millions of earners, and unmatched data, Uber can make electrification and autonomy real for cities, drivers, couriers, and consumers — not in theory, but in daily operations,” Cornelia wrote on LinkedIn. 

Uber said its drivers are going electric five times faster than the general population in the U.S. and Canada. To accelerate the transition, Uber in October announced it would give drivers $4,000 to switch to EVs — new or used — in New York City, California, Colorado and Massachusetts. The company also has partnerships with EV charging networks to secure better access and rates for its drivers. Uber is also expanding “battery matching” on the its platform, ensuring that drivers are only given trips that their current battery range can complete. 

On the AV front, Uber is partnering with companies including Waymo for rides and Nuro for deliveries. Uber also unveiled a deal with NVIDIA and Stellantis in October to roll out a fleet of 5,000 robotaxis and autonomous delivery vehicles in the U.S. and internationally. Stellantis plans to supply the cars equipped with NVIDIA’s AV software, while Uber will manage the operations, including charging and customer support. 

Cornelia said he’s built and scaled mobility and energy ventures for more than a decade. At Mercedes-Benz, he led a new team tasked with opening hundreds of charging stations throughout North America. Before that, he held leadership roles at Volta Charging and Tesla.