Uber Technologies Inc. and Nuro, an autonomous vehicle company, today announced a multi-year partnership to use Nuro's autonomous, electric vehicles for food deliveries in the U.S.
Uber Eats consumers will be able to order meals and goods delivered by Nuro's zero-occupant autonomous delivery vehicles, which run on public roads and are built specifically to carry food and other goods. The partnership will kick off this fall with deliveries in Houston and Mountain View, Calif.
San Francisco-based Uber and Mountain View, Calif.-based Nuro said they plan to expand the service to the greater Bay Area.
“Nuro and Uber share a vision in which technology can make everyday life just a little bit easier,” said Noah Zych, global head of autonomous mobility and delivery at Uber. “Nuro's distinctive autonomous vehicles are a great match for the Uber platform, and this partnership will bring a compelling combination of innovation alongside the convenience, affordability and reliability our customers and merchants have come to expect.”
Uber Eats customers get a taste of an autonomous future
The partnership highlights the rapidly growing potential for last-mile autonomous delivery of meals, groceries, and other goods, said the companies. It also opens up autonomous delivery technology to Uber Eats merchants and restaurants of all sizes, they added.
In addition, Uber and Nuro said their partnership provides an opportunity for them to join forces to support local businesses and strengthen local commerce.
“Our partnership with Uber underscores Nuro's track record of partnering with the world's leading brands to make autonomous delivery a seamless experience,” said Cosimo Leipold, head of partnerships at Nuro. “With our unique autonomous delivery vehicles and Uber's phenomenal scale and reach, we can expand food delivery options from your favorite local mom-and-pop restaurants all the way to nationwide chains.”
Nuro claimed that its electric vehicles are built with other road users' safety in mind. They can help reduce emissions from car trips and other traditional delivery options that use gas-powered vehicles, leading to cleaner air and better public health outcomes, it said.
Nuro's collaboration with Uber follows multiple strategic partnerships with market leaders in grocery, restaurant, parcel logistics, and convenience.
Uber said the partnership is part of its efforts across autonomous mobility and delivery. The company noted that it will provide innovative services to consumers and merchant partners in Mountain View and Houston.
Uber Eats said it delivers instant access to local commerce, helping people across the world discover restaurants and merchants, order meals, groceries, alcohol, and more at the touch of a button—and get it delivered reliably and quickly. The business uses Uber's technology and logistics expertise to partner with 825,000 merchants in more than 11,000 cities globally, while keeping average delivery time under 30 minutes.
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