Uber Announces Partnership for Autonomous Robotaxis in US

Uber has announced an agreement with Avride, a spinout of Yandex's former self-driving group. This multi-year deal enables Uber to offer both autonomous delivery and ride-hailing services using Avride’s robots and vehicles.

Starting immediately, Uber Eats customers in Austin, Texas, will have the option to receive deliveries from Avride’s six-wheeled robots. The company plans to expand this service to Dallas and Jersey City later this year. By 2025, Uber users in Dallas will also be able to hail autonomous vehicles from Avride for rides. 

“We have the right utilization, consumer experience, and go-to-market expertise to drive the greatest value for AV partners,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO, Uber during the company’s second-quarter earnings call, 

Avride, formerly Yandex Self-Driving Group, rebranded earlier this year after Yandex sold its Russian businesses following the geopolitical fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Yandex, a leading technology company in Russia, had initially focused on expanding its autonomous vehicle operations in the US and Europe, even testing self-driving cars in Michigan and operating robot deliveries on college campuses in partnership with Grubhub. 

However, these operations were halted after the Russian invasion triggered international sanctions, forcing Yandex to sever its ties with the country. Avride, now based in Austin, is part of the parent company Nebius Group, which retains no ties to its Russian roots.

In addition to its partnership with Avride, Uber has been expanding its AV ecosystem through collaborations with other companies. The company has entered agreements with Waymo, WeRide, and Motional to offer robotaxi services in various markets. These deals include a tie-up with Chinese startup WeRide to launch robotaxis in Abu Dhabi and an agreement with GM’s Cruise for self-driving cars.