Uber and Zipline partner on U.S. drone delivery via Uber Eats
Uber Technologies (NYSE: UBER) and Zipline announced a strategic partnership aimed at scaling drone delivery across the United States, with first deployments on Uber Eats planned for later this year.
Under the agreement, Uber will make a strategic investment in Zipline, though financial terms were not disclosed. The companies said they aim to reach one million drone deliveries per day by the end of 2029.
Uber Eats customers will have the option to receive orders via Zipline's autonomous drone delivery system. The service will initially launch across existing Zipline markets, with plans to expand into dozens of U.S. cities.
Zipline currently operates on four continents and claims to complete a delivery every 20 seconds. The company says it has flown more than 135 million autonomous miles and made more than 2.7 million deliveries of more than 20 million items. Its logistics network serves more than 5,000 hospitals.
"Zipline has built incredible technology, and Uber connects many millions of people with local merchants every day," said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber. "Together, we're shaping the future of delivery by creating a faster, more sustainable way for people to get what they need."
"Teleportation isn't science fiction anymore. It's becoming part of everyday life," said Keller Cliffton, co-founder of Zipline. "Together with Uber, we're taking the next step toward building a world where getting what you need is as fast and effortless as sending a text."
