Uber customers in Dallas can now get matched with Avride robotaxis through the regular ride-hailing app, marking a significant commercial deployment in the autonomous vehicle space. The service launches with human safety operators behind the wheel and covers a 9-square-mile downtown area, with plans for fully driverless operations in the future.
Uber customers in Dallas just got access to something that felt like science fiction a few years ago - robotaxis available through the same app they use for regular rides. The launch represents the latest milestone in Uber's aggressive push into autonomous vehicles, bringing the total number of AV partnerships to 20 across freight, delivery, and passenger transport.
The Dallas deployment uses Avride's self-driving technology integrated into all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 vehicles, initially covering a 9-square-mile area that includes downtown. For now, human safety operators sit behind the wheel to monitor each ride, but both companies confirm fully driverless operations will begin in the future as the service area expands.
Avride, an Austin-based startup under parent company Nebius Group (formerly Yandex NV), has moved quickly from sidewalk delivery robots to passenger robotaxis. The partnership began just over a year ago, and according to TechCrunch reporting, Avride's delivery robots have already been operating through Uber Eats in Austin, Dallas, and Jersey City since the fall.
The timing couldn't be more strategic for Uber. The company has been on a dealmaking spree this year, locking in autonomous vehicle partnerships with established players like Waymo, China's WeRide, and San Francisco startup Nuro. Uber already offers robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh with WeRide, and in Atlanta, Austin, and Phoenix with Waymo.
"Uber said it plans to have autonomous vehicles on its network in at least 10 cities by the end of 2026," according to the official announcement. The expansion roadmap includes Arlington, Texas, Dubai, London, Los Angeles, Munich, and the San Francisco Bay Area over the next two years.
For passengers, the experience mirrors Uber's existing Waymo integration. When requesting UberX, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric rides, users might get matched with an Avride robotaxi - though it's not guaranteed. Riders can adjust their app settings to increase the chances of getting a robotaxi, and they'll pay the same price as human-driven rides.
