Austin-based AV company collaborating with Uber on delivery robots, rideshares

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin-based autonomous vehicle company Avride will be rolling out delivery and robotaxi services with Uber, according to an Oct. 3 announcement.

The multi-year partnership includes delivery robots for Uber Eats and autonomous vehicles operating for Uber. Sidewalk robots will deploy in Austin in the coming weeks as part of the Uber Eats delivery partnership before later expanding into Dallas and Jersey City, with the New Jersey launch coming later this year, the release said.

Those operations are expected to expand in 2025, with hundreds of Avride robots to join the Uber Eats fleet, company leaders noted. On the robotaxi end of things, that operation is anticipated to launch in Dallas next year.

“We are excited to partner with Uber as we scale our operations and work together to further improve the delivery experience for both consumers and merchants," Avride CEO Dmitry Polishchuk said in the announcement. "We plan to expand the total fleet of Avride robots operating within Uber Eats to hundreds in 2025, followed by the launch of our robotaxi service.”

Avride's collaboration with Uber is the latest in a serious of autonomous vehicle-based technologies utilized by the rideshare company. Last month, AV company Waymo announced its partnership with Uber on driverless ride-hailing services. Austin residents will be able to hitch an Uber in one of Waymo's driverless Jaguar I-PACE vehicle in early 2025.