Austin's own Avride is set to kick off an innovative venture with Uber Technologies, Inc. by rolling out autonomous delivery robots through the Uber Eats platform. This deployment is expected to hit the sidewalks of Austin in just a few weeks, with further plans to expand the service to Dallas and Jersey City, New Jersey, later in the year. In an announcement covered by CBS Austin, Avride aims to vastly increase its fleet to hundreds of delivery robots by 2025, all operating under the Uber Eats banner.
The multiyear strategic partnership intends to not only introduce sidewalk robots but also establish a robotaxi service. Dmitry Polishchuk, CEO of Avride, told CBS Austin, "Our goal is to expand our fleet to hundreds of delivery robots in 2025, followed by the launch of our robotaxi service." This venture signifies a considerable leap forward in automated delivery and personal transportation sectors for both companies.
When consumers request a qualifying delivery or ride on the Uber or Uber Eats app, they could be given the option to have their service fulfilled by an autonomous Avride vehicle. The move is part of a broader push by Uber to revolutionize how goods and people move through urban centers, an effort underscored by over 52 billion Uber trips taken to date. Avride's autonomous vehicle and robot technology have already been in commercial use within the United States and South Korea, with autonomous cars presently being tested on public roads.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi expressed optimism about the collaboration, saying in a statement obtained by the Uber newsroom, "Autonomous mobility and delivery hold a ton of promise for consumers and communities." He added, "We’re excited to partner with Avride to bring their technology to more people in more places, as they continue to scale." This signals Uber's ongoing commitment to adapting and expanding its offerings to meet future transport and delivery demands.
About Uber and Avride: Uber, a global transportation and delivery platform, commenced operations in 2010, aiming to provide easy access to transportation. Avride, based in Austin, Texas, is focused on the development and operation of autonomous cars and delivery robots, utilizing shared technologies to address current and anticipated future needs. The burgeoning autonomous delivery service in Austin represents just the beginning of Avride's collaboration with Uber, as stated by Uber's press release.
