Uber Eats Expands Autonomous Deliveries with Avride Robots in Jersey City
Uber Eats customers in Jersey City now have the option to receive their orders via Avride’s autonomous sidewalk delivery robots, marking another step in Uber’s growing investment in self-driving technology.
The rollout, which began this week in New Jersey, is part of Uber’s broader push into autonomous vehicles and further strengthens its collaboration with Avride. Currently, Uber operates autonomous vehicle (AV) services in 11 cities through six different partners, including Cartken, Coco, Nuro, and Serve Robotics. The company is also preparing to integrate Waymo’s autonomous taxis into its app in Austin and Atlanta by early 2025.
Uber first announced its partnership with Avride in October 2024, with plans to introduce both Avride’s sidewalk robots and self-driving vehicles to its platform. Since then, the duo has launched robotic deliveries in Austin and Dallas. Looking ahead, they also plan to deploy Avride’s self-driving cars in Dallas, marking the company’s first official robotaxi service in the U.S.
Avride, a spin-off from Yandex—a Russian tech giant that restructured its businesses following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine—has been expanding its presence in the U.S. The startup recently partnered with Grubhub to deploy 100 delivery robots at Ohio State University, with plans to expand to more campuses nationwide.
A Bold, Challenging Expansion into Jersey City
Jersey City is a unique choice for the launch—especially in February, when snow, rain, and freezing temperatures could pose challenges for the small delivery bots. However, Avride claims its robots are built to handle snowy conditions and “moderate precipitation.”
A company spokesperson stated that the bots can reach speeds of up to five miles per hour and have a battery range of 31 miles per charge. However, their ideal delivery radius is between one and two miles. Initially, the robots will operate within a one-square-mile area of downtown Jersey City, covering neighborhoods such as Hamilton Park, Historic Downtown, and the Waterfront, with plans to expand over time.
While Avride has not disclosed the exact number of robots deployed at launch, a selection of restaurants will participate, including Michelin-rated Jiangnan, Rumi Turkish Grill, and Gulp. Customers ordering via the Uber Eats app can choose between a traditional courier or an Avride robot for their delivery. The app will also allow users to track the robot’s journey in real-time. Once the bot arrives, customers will receive a notification and can unlock the robot using the app to retrieve their food.
The Future of Autonomous Deliveries
During Uber’s Q4 earnings report last week, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi described 2024 as a pivotal year for the autonomous vehicle industry. He emphasized that AV technology represents a trillion-dollar market opportunity in the U.S. alone.
Despite his optimism, Khosrowshahi acknowledged that widespread commercialization of AVs will take time due to several factors, including high costs associated with advanced sensor technology, inconsistent regulations across different regions, fluctuating seasonal demand, and the challenge of achieving “superhuman” safety levels.
As Uber and Avride continue expanding their autonomous delivery footprint, Jersey City’s rollout serves as a key test of how well these robots can navigate urban environments under real-world conditions.