How Do Uber Drivers Afford Renting EV’s?

JAF on 20/05/2025 - 21:39
Last edited 21/05/2025 - 10:06 by 1 other user

Recently around Perth I’ve noticed a lot of uber drivers have cars (mostly Polestar and Tesla) that have a “Splend” logo on them which got me curious what Splend is.

I goggled and it seems to be a rent to own car website. I had a look through and a Polestar starts at $499/wk.

I just don’t get how an uber driver can make a living wage when they are paying $499/week on the car alone? Surely uber drivers don’t make that much do they though?

Apologies if this comes across in a bad way I’m confused how it can be afforded.

Automotive Car Rental Uber Electric Vehicle

Related Stores

splend.com.au
splend.com.au

Comments

  • DOGGYWOWWOW on 20/05/2025 - 21:44
    +1

    Same way Jetstar is profitable charging $50 on $20m planes. Revenue > Operating costs. Electricity is cheaper than petrol.

  • Stewardo on 20/05/2025 - 21:51
    +2

    It would depend on how many hours you put in, and how many drivers you have. You could split the shifts with your colleague/relative.
    The lease itself would be tax deductible as well.

    • ShoeyAU on 21/05/2025 - 07:36
      +2

      true, like those old Ford Falcon taxis in the 90s - the car itself is running like 24hrs nonstop and clocks up 400K+ km

  • dcep on 20/05/2025 - 21:56
    +5

    subsidized by Uber

    https://www.uber.com/en-AU/blog/uber-splend-partnership/

    • Euphemistic on 21/05/2025 - 06:42
      +2

      Sounds like the perfect partnership./s Pay people low wages disguised with a bunch of platform fees and not allowing for true running costs to be obvious. Lock them into a new car lease (its effectively a lease) so that they need to drive heaps for you to make payments.

  • BewareOfThe Dog on 20/05/2025 - 22:32
    +1

    Working 7 days a week, doing 12 hour days = 72 hours. Then there is the work done outside of this for Menulog, Doordash. Amazon Flex, Didi etc. Some of these guys work themselves into the ground, yet they can't afford $5 to join the TWU Rideshare Union (Or can't be bothered etc).

    • randomusername2017 on 20/05/2025 - 23:05
      +2

      Student Visa ❤️

      • TheMindsetTraveller on 21/05/2025 - 03:54
        +6

        Thank goodness for people on student visas —- since no sensible citizen would want these crappy, low-paying, zero-protection jobs. Similarly, thankful for these groups of people who also work in hospitality and service orientated roles because none of us, wants to be paid award wage with unmeaningful room for career progression.

        • Fredfloresjr on 21/05/2025 - 07:24
          +1

          Indeed, these students are more valuable than those who rely on Centrelink and NDIS. They work hard to F***** feed these people.

        • SYLTB on 21/05/2025 - 07:51

          Import doctors, engineers, cooks, and others for cheap, and post your next comment 'leave the country'. You are descendent of coloniser poms?

          • TheMindsetTraveller on 21/05/2025 - 17:09

            @SYLTB: I am just saying people on student visas are very, very important to Australia. If tomorrow, we have none of these people, I can assure you that the community will grind to a halt. I would say that 90% of hospitality will have to suspend business right away.

        • arkie0 on 21/05/2025 - 12:38
          +1

          Agreed, on top of that the ones on student visa working 12 hour days end up becoming PRs… then buy a house.

          Then the sensible citizen can't afford a house

  • 0430trevor on 20/05/2025 - 22:33
    +3

    If you go see splend they are actually offer polestars from $379 on rent to own,2-3 year contract. This makes it about the same as a Camry but with higher earnings and lower fuel/charging costs it makes a lot of sense. I know I’d rather drive a 70k ev around than a 40k Camry

  • jv on 21/05/2025 - 09:31

    when they are paying $499/week on the car alone?

    tax deductions…

    Tax payers are helping pay for the car…

    • Protractor on 21/05/2025 - 09:59
      +1

      Glad you've finally joined the scrapping of CGT tax and NG rorts campaign.

      Are you onboard making billionaires and foreign raiders/corporations pay full tax as well? Or this that too 'green' for you?

      • jv on 21/05/2025 - 10:01
        +1

        Are you onboard making billionaires and foreign raiders/corporations pay full tax as well?

        Why is Albo exempting politicians from his new theft tax on super ???

        • Protractor on 21/05/2025 - 10:29
          +2

          That's a Canberra tradition, not invented by Albo.

          (PS I've signed you up.) Welcome comrade!

          • jv on 21/05/2025 - 10:35
            -1

            @Protractor:

            That's a Canberra tradition, not invented by Albo.

            Albo continuing to support it by exempting politicians from his Theft tax…

            Albo is the one drafting this legislation, he has a choice and he has chosen to line his own pockets… Surprise, surprise…

        • mskeggs on 21/05/2025 - 10:38

          I understood pollies have normal super accounts now and are not exempt from super changes?
          Or are you getting mixed up about historical defined benefit schemes no longer available to politicians?

  • Protractor on 21/05/2025 - 09:56

    How Do Uber Drivers Afford Renting EV’s?

    Money laundering?

    • jv on 21/05/2025 - 10:36
      -1

      The ones I've seen do not do any laundering at all…

  • AustriaBargain on 21/05/2025 - 11:43
    -1

    I think they conduct some kind of spirited business deals over the phone in Hindi while driving.

  • miwahni on 21/05/2025 - 22:15

    I recently had an Uber in Sydney and driver turned up in an $85k Lexus. I remember wondering how he afforded it, and whether Uber really paid that well. Driver was quite proud of his car and happy to tell me all about it including the customised mats he had made to protect the carpets. I don't recall seeing a Splend sign on the car but a rent to own arrangement could explain how he could afford that car. Must admit I was impressed by it.

    • Euphemistic on 22/05/2025 - 13:29

      Bored rich kid that was running uber for giggles? Don't forget, uber started out as a side gig for play money. Not all uber drivers are full time uberers.

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