Uber shows off purpose-built Arrival Car

British van and bus manufacturer Arrival has revealed the all-new small car it has created for ride-hail giant Uber.

Uninspiringly called the Arrival Car, the new battery-electric vehicle follows a six-month-long consultation with Uber.

It's scheduled for a launch in late 2023, with the first prototypes to begin testing on roads in the UK early next year.

It will join the start-up's pure-electric Arrival Van, sharing the same modular electric platform and featuring bolt-on, damage-resistant composite panels.

Thanks to its design, Arrival claims the van and car are both quick to assemble, cheap to repair and, crucially, will be cheap to buy.

Full details of the car have yet to surface, but it's believed the Arrival Car is around the same size as a Volkswagen Golf.

That said, thanks to a lack of conventional combustion engine, there's twice as much legroom.

Up front, the driver sits on a raised seat that, along with the huge front screen, provides superior visibility compared to conventional hatches.

No claims for luggage space have been made, but the tall and narrow boot is said to have been designed for two large suitcases to be stored upright.

Like the van, the cabin architecture is minimalistic, with a single large screen mounted centrally that displays the car's speed, range and sat-nav. It also has Uber's software embedded into it.

In developing the Arrival Car, engineers were tasked with prioritising comfort and safety while minimising cost but maximising the amount of time it can spend on the road.

The average Uber driver in the UK drives up to 50,000km a year.

There's some new undisclosed tech that's claimed to maximise range, including a sophisticated regen method and on-board driving assistant.

Like the van, it's expected the Arrival Car will be driven by a 150kW front-mounted electric motor that will operate through a two-speed automatic transmission.

A dual-motor version will also be available, plus wo battery packs, with the cheapest versions getting 67kWh and the most expensive a large 89kWh.

Both batteries sit low in the chassis between the two axles.

The Arrival Car is set to be rolled out globally, but instead of being made in a giant gigafactory, Arrival envisages it will be assembled in smaller, local micro-factories.

The company says this will be more sustainable while also supporting local communities.

There's no word yet on which countries will be involved in the international rollout, but with an estimated 30 million drivers currently working for ride-hailing apps, the potential market is huge.

"This is a key milestone for Arrival and we’re thrilled today to be releasing the first look at the Arrival Car," said head of vehicle platforms Tom Elvidge.

"Over the past six months, we have been working closely with Uber’s drivers to create a vehicle specifically for the ride-hailing industry, and making it affordable, durable and great to look at.

"Electrifying ride hailing will play a crucial role in reducing the emissions of vehicles in cities globally, providing a sustainable, clean multi-modal transportation system for communities.

"We are keen on supporting drivers with this transition by developing the best possible product for ride hailing that elevates the experience for both them and their passengers, making urban air clean in the process."