Uber Eats to Deliver Food by Drone in Minutes

Uber and Zipline have announced a major long-term partnership that will bring autonomous drone deliveries to millions of Americans, with an ambitious goal of reaching one million deliveries per day by the end of 2029. Uber is also making a strategic capital investment in Zipline, signaling its commitment to integrating drones into its future logistics network.

The integration will leverage Zipline's existing infrastructure, directly connecting it with the Uber Eats app. Over the next few years, the service is planned to expand to dozens of additional cities across the U.S. The key consumer benefit is speed, with Zipline claiming its technology can deliver packages in just 5 to 10 minutes. This is a significant reduction from the current average U.S. delivery time of around 18 minutes.

This rapid delivery capability is particularly advantageous for time-sensitive items like hot meals, urgent grocery needs, medications, or household essentials. Initial service will launch in areas where Zipline already has established infrastructure, including Dallas and Houston, Texas. As more delivery stations are built, users in other metropolitan areas will gain access to drone delivery.

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Zipline has created an impressive technology, and Uber connects millions of people with local businesses every day. Together, we are shaping the future of delivery, creating a faster and more sustainable way to get essential products.

Zipline has already developed an extensive consumer delivery network in Texas, serving over 100 brands, including major retailers like Walmart and restaurant chains like Chipotle. The company also operates commercially in Ohio and Arkansas, alongside its international activities. This partnership aligns with Uber's broader strategy of building a hybrid logistics model that combines human couriers, sidewalk robots, and autonomous drones, selecting the optimal delivery method based on factors like distance, traffic, weather, and package type.

"Zipline has created an impressive technology, and Uber connects millions of people with local businesses every day," said Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. "Together, we are shaping the future of delivery, creating a faster and more sustainable way to get essential products." Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, CEO and co-founder of Zipline, added, "Teleportation has ceased to be the domain of science fiction – it is becoming a part of everyday life," emphasizing the transformative potential of drones for consumer access to goods.

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Teleportation has ceased to be the domain of science fiction – it is becoming a part of everyday life.