(Reuters) – Uber Technologies and Zipline announced a partnership on Monday to bring autonomous drone delivery to Uber Eats customers across the United States.
The tie-up was accompanied by Uber making a strategic investment in the drone delivery company.
- The companies said they aim to reach 1 million drone deliveries per day by the end of 2029, with the first deliveries beginning later this year.
- The service will first launch in Zipline’s existing U.S. markets before expanding to dozens of additional cities.
- Uber declined to comment on Reuters’ request seeking financial details of its investment in Zipline.
- Zipline, which operates in four continents, has made 2 million deliveries so far. The company was most recently valued at $7.6 billion after raising $800 million earlier this year.
- The Zipline deal is similar to Uber’s partnership with drone firm Flytrex last year, which also included an investment.
- Zipline has been expanding its U.S. footprint, with commercial partners including Walmart, as well as more than a dozen restaurant brands such as Panera, Chipotle and Wendy’s.
Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar
