Uber teams up with BP fuel stations, offering its drivers further benefits

Uber driver Mandeep Kaur Sidhu. Photo / Supplied

Uber has teamed up with BP petrol stations in a bid to make Uber ever-more appealing for drivers.

From December 14 the ride sharing company will provide its drivers with petrol discounts to help them "maximise their earnings".

The discounts will range between eight and 12 cents per litre and can be used in conjunction with other fuel discounts through BP's BPMe app.

Uber New Zealand general manager Richard Menzies said fuel discounts had been highly requested from drivers.

"Fuel discounts are one of the most requested item from our driver-partners in relation to our loyalty programme called Momentum that we run, so we thought it would be fantastic to work with BP on a system to develop this," Menzies said.

"The discount we are providing is tied in with the BPMe app which is very easy to use.

"Many of our driver-partners already utilise the app and given they use the Uber app, its technology they are familiar and comfortable with."

Last month Uber introduced wait time charges for users who keep drivers waiting more than two minutes, which was also in response to driver feedback, Menzies said.

"Our driver-partners sometimes found it frustrating when they were waiting at rider pickup locations and had to wait for quite an extended period of time, when they could be taking another trip in that time and earning income, so we felt that the two minute paid wait-time was a way to balance it out," he said.

The charges, 55c per minute for UberX riders, are added on to the fare and distributed to both the driver and company.

There are approximately 5000 Uber drivers across Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and 300,000 Kiwis regularly use the service.

Uber is set to launch in Hamilton and Tauranga early next year.