Uber and Avride introduce autonomous taxi service in Dallas

Uber and Avride Launch Robotaxi Service in Dallas

Riders in Dallas using Uber may soon find themselves picked up by a robotaxi branded with Avride, thanks to a new collaboration between the two companies.

One year after announcing their partnership, Uber and Avride have officially introduced a commercial robotaxi service in Dallas. Initially, these autonomous vehicles will operate with a human safety operator present and will be limited to a specific service area. Both companies have stated that they plan to remove the safety operator and broaden the service region in the future.

This launch marks the culmination of a year filled with rapid agreements and rollouts for Uber, which has partnered with several autonomous vehicle innovators such as Waymo, WeRide from China, and Nuro, a startup based in San Francisco. Uber now has 20 active partnerships with companies in the autonomous vehicle sector, spanning freight, delivery, and robotaxi services—some of which are already operating commercially. Through its app, Uber offers autonomous rides in cities like Abu Dhabi and Riyadh with WeRide, and in Atlanta, Austin, and Phoenix with Waymo.

Uber aims to have self-driving vehicles available in at least ten cities by the close of 2026. Over the next two years, the company intends to introduce autonomous vehicles in Arlington, Texas; Dubai; London; Los Angeles; Munich; and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Many of these collaborations have included financial investments from Uber. Avride, a startup based in Austin and part of the Nebius Group, is among the companies receiving such backing.

In October 2024, Uber signed a multi-year agreement with Avride to integrate both sidewalk delivery robots and autonomous vehicles into Uber Eats and the main Uber platform. Shortly after, Avride’s delivery robots began transporting food orders through Uber Eats in Austin, Dallas, and Jersey City.

This autumn, Avride secured $375 million in strategic investments and commercial agreements from Uber and Nebius, the latter previously known as Yandex NV, a Netherlands-based company that divested its Russian operations in 2024.

While Avride’s sidewalk delivery robots have already made an impact on Uber’s food delivery service, the introduction of robotaxis is seen as an even more significant development for both companies.

The robotaxi fleet consists of all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 vehicles equipped with Avride’s autonomous driving technology. These vehicles will initially serve a nine-square-mile area in Dallas, including the downtown district. Uber has announced plans to gradually expand the coverage area.

Although the fleet is currently small, Uber representatives have indicated that hundreds of Avride robotaxis will be deployed throughout Dallas over the next several years.

The Dallas robotaxi service is expected to eventually mirror Uber’s collaboration with Waymo in Austin and Atlanta. Initially, Avride will oversee its own fleet, but Uber will later assume responsibility for daily operations, including cleaning, maintenance, inspections, charging, and depot management. Uber will handle all rider support from the outset, while Avride will focus on vehicle testing.

Uber users requesting UberX, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric may be paired with an Avride robotaxi, though this is not guaranteed. Riders can increase their chances of getting a robotaxi by adjusting their preferences in the Uber app. Pricing for robotaxi rides will match that of trips with human drivers.

When a rider is matched with an Avride robotaxi, they will receive a notification and can choose to accept the ride or opt for a traditional driver. Upon arrival, the Uber app allows riders to unlock the vehicle, access the trunk, and begin their journey.