Uber, Zipline partner on US drone delivery for Uber Eats

Uber Technologies and Zipline have jointly announced a new partnership aimed at introducing autonomous drone delivery services for Uber Eats customers across the United States. In this collaboration, Uber has made a strategic investment in Zipline.

The companies have set an ambitious goal to achieve 1 million drone deliveries per day by the end of 2029, with the first deliveries expected to commence later this year. The service will initially launch in Zipline's existing U.S. markets before gradually expanding to dozens of additional cities.

Uber has not disclosed any financial details regarding its investment in Zipline when asked by Reuters. Zipline, a company that operates in four continents, has already completed 2 million deliveries. The company's valuation was recently assessed at $7.6 billion following a $800 million fundraising round earlier this year.

This partnership bears resemblance to Uber's previous collaboration with drone firm Flytrex, which also included an investment. Zipline has been actively broadening its presence in the United States, partnering with companies such as Walmart and over a dozen restaurant chains, including Panera, Chipotle, and Wendy's.