Uber has announced a strategic partnership and investment with drone delivery company Zipline, aiming to integrate unmanned aircraft into its Uber Eats platform. The companies plan to launch initial deliveries by year’s end in markets where Zipline already operates, with ambitions to expand across dozens of U.S. cities. Uber has not disclosed the specific investment amount in the agreement.
The collaboration reflects Uber’s broader strategy of partnering with multiple autonomous vehicle providers rather than developing proprietary technology. By leveraging Zipline’s existing drone network, Uber aims to achieve one million deliveries daily through aerial services by the end of 2029. The company projects that drone deliveries could fulfill orders within five to ten minutes, positioning quick commerce as a significant growth opportunity for its food delivery division.
This partnership follows Uber’s earlier drone delivery experiment with Israeli startup Flytrex. The ride-hail company has committed over $10 billion to autonomous vehicle providers while divesting its own programs, including its former aerial mobility division. Zipline, valued at $7.6 billion after closing an $800 million funding round, brings established infrastructure and operational experience to the collaboration, making it a strategic fit for Uber’s expansion into drone-based delivery services.
Originally reported by Techcrunch →
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