Uber Launches Robotaxi service in Dallas with Avride
DALLAS, TX – Decemberโ 11, โฃ2024 – Uber has begun offering robotaxi rides in Dallas, โขtexas, marking a significantโ expansion of its โคautonomous vehicle program. The service, โpowered by โself-driving technology from Avride, initially operates within a 9-square-mile area encompassing downtown Dallas, with plans for future expansion. This launch represents a key step in Uber’s broader strategy to integrate autonomous vehicles into its ride-hailing network.
The โpartnership with โavride, announced โinโข October 2024, builds upon a multi-year deal toโ deploy sidewalkโ delivery robots and autonomous vehicles for both Uber Eats and Uber. Avride’s sidewalk robots โhave already been delivering food via the Uber Eats app in Austin,โข Dallas, and Jersey City for several months.
The Dallas fleet consists of all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 vehicles equippedโ with Avride’s self-driving โsystem. While currently limited in size, โUber intends to scaleโข the fleet โฃto โขhundreds of Avride robotaxis across Dallas in the โคcoming โyears.
Initially, Avride willโ manage the fleet, focusing on vehicle testing.โฃ Uberโค will gradually assume day-to-day โfleet operations, including cleaning,โ maintenance, inspections, charging, and depot management. Uber โwill provideโค end-to-end rider support from the outset.
Uber riders requestingโฃ UberX, Uber โComfort, or Uberโ Comfort Electric โrides might potentially be matched with an Avride robotaxi, tho the match isn’t guaranteed. Riders can increase their chances of being assigned a robotaxi by adjusting a settingโค within the Uber app. Rides inโฃ the autonomous vehicles will be priced the same as those driven by human drivers.
Users will receive a notification if matched with an Avride robotaxiโ andโ have the option to accept or switch to aโ human-driven ride. Once the robotaxi arrives,โข riders can useโข the Uber app to โunlock the vehicle, โฃopen the trunk, andโข begin their trip.
This Dallas launch โฃmirrors Uber’s existingโค autonomous vehicle partnerships with Waymo in Austin and Atlanta. โคIn those โcities,Uber and Waymo have established a similar model of shared operations and โrider choice. โ
Avride recently secured $375 million in strategicโ investmentsโค and commercial commitments fromโฃ Uber and Nebius (formerly Yandex NV),the Netherlands-based company thatโค sold โฃoff โits Russian business earlier โin 2024.
