Automakers have been trying to get in on the popularity that is ridesharing for awhile. While the results have been mixed, some like Ford are still trying. The automaker has a unique program for rideshare drivers that’ll let them drive a Mustang Mach-E, but it’s not cheap.
The program is called Ford Drive. While the site says it’s only available in L.A., San Francisco and San Diego, it’s supposedly available all over California. Which is to say, it’s only available in California for now and is only available to individuals who are already driving for Uber. It allows drivers to sign up and pay for Mustang Mach-Es to use for rideshare.
As with most of these programs, insurance and maintenance are all bundled into the price. Ford uses typical terms like “flexibility”, “all-inclusive” and “savings” to describe the program while touting how easy it is to sign up. And this is all true. Drivers can sign up — there’s also a soft credit check and a minimum score of 600 — choose their pricing package and then schedule to pick up their Mach-E. Along with the credit score requirement, drivers have to meet just a few other requirements before they can sign up: be an existing Uber driver, have a minimum score rating of 4.9 and have completed a minimum of 100 trips. The problem is the price.
Drivers can choose between two weekly plans. The cheapest is the standard plan which was once $289 but has now been dropped to $259/week. That comes with 500 miles and 20 cents for every mile over that. If you’re going to be doing more driving, there’s the premium plan. It was $389/week but that’s been lowered to $309/week. That plan gets drivers unlimited miles. Both come with no down payment and include auto insurance, maintenance and the ability to switch plans at any time. So basically, figure just over $1,000/month for the basic plan and $1,236 to get the plan with unlimited miles.
What’s wild is that right now, every single Mach-E lease is a better deal than the entire Ford Drive program. The cheapest Mach-E lease in Southern California right now is $319 a month for 36 months on a Mach-E Select. One could even go all-out on performance with the Mach-E GT and still come out cheaper than Ford Drive. Right now, you can lease a ‘24 Mach-E GT for $487/month for 36 months with 10,500 annual miles. Or if you want to get slidey the new Mach-E Rally is available for $540 a month with the same terms as the GT. Some could say that this price is right what it should be if you include insurance.
Even with insurance though you’ll still come out ahead with a regular lease. I managed to work up a quote with Allstate on a Mach-E Select. Keep in mind California car insurance rates are a bit nuts right now because the insurance industry is freaking out because they actually have to do what people are paying them to do. Even with a good driver discount and full coverage and 15,000 miles a year, I was quoted $591 a month. Add in the current Mach-E Select lease and you’re at $979 a month, $57 cheaper than the basic Ford Drive plan.
I reached out to Ford to see if the automaker had any plan to offer any cheaper weekly tiers and will update this when they get back to me. Now I’m not saying go out and lease this thing and use it to ride-share. However if you find yourself interested in this as a ride-share driver, do yourself a favor and make sure you know what you’re getting into. Just know it’s literally cheaper to lease one from Ford instead.