Uber and Zipline Partner to Launch Drone Delivery Across the US

Uber Technologies and drone delivery company Zipline announced a partnership on Monday to bring autonomous drone deliveries to Uber Eats customers across the United States. The deal also includes a strategic investment by Uber in Zipline, although the companies did not disclose the financial details.

The companies aim to scale the service to 1 million drone deliveries per day by the end of 2029, with the first deliveries expected to begin later this year. The service will initially launch in Zipline’s existing U.S. markets before expanding to dozens of additional cities. Zipline, which operates across four continents, has completed about 2 million deliveries to date and was most recently valued at $7.6 billion after raising $800 million earlier this year.

The partnership expands Uber’s push into autonomous delivery and follows a similar investment and partnership with drone company Flytrex last year. Zipline has been rapidly expanding its U.S. operations, working with major retailers such as Walmart and restaurant brands including Panera, Chipotle and Wendy’s. The latest tie-up is expected to further integrate drone delivery into Uber Eats and accelerate the adoption of autonomous food delivery across the country.

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