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Avride to Expand Testing of Robotaxis Ahead of Uber Launch

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Autonomous technology startup Avride announced on Thursday that it will expand vehicle testing in Dallas as part of its plans to roll out robotaxis on Uber’s (UBER.N) ride-hailing platform later this year. The move marks another step in Avride’s partnership with Uber, aimed at making autonomous transportation part of mainstream mobility.

Avride first teamed up with Uber in October 2023, deploying delivery robots on Uber Eats in Austin. That service later expanded to Dallas and Jersey City. By the end of this year, Avride’s robotaxis will also be available through Uber, bringing both its delivery and passenger services onto a single platform.

“Soon, Uber riders will have a new way to move around the city, marking another step toward making autonomous transportation part of everyday life,” said Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s head of autonomous mobility and delivery.

The robotaxi fleet will be based on Hyundai Motor’s (005380.KS) IONIQ 5 electric vehicle, enhanced with Avride’s autonomous driving system. The partnership with Hyundai, signed in March, also includes joint development and operations of self-driving cars.

Beyond ride-hailing, Avride has extended its reach into food delivery. It has partnered with Grubhub to deploy autonomous robots on U.S. college campuses, broadening its commercialization strategy across both passenger and delivery markets.

Avride Partners with Hyundai to Expand Robotaxi Fleet

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Self-driving technology startup Avride has announced a strategic partnership with Hyundai Motor Co to expand its fleet of robotaxis. Under the deal, Avride will incorporate 100 Hyundai IONIQ 5 cars into its fleet this year, with plans to grow further by 2026 as the company seeks to enhance its autonomous vehicle services and expand into new regions.

Avride, based in Texas, is joining a growing group of companies advancing autonomous vehicle technology and expanding their fleet of robotaxis. This includes Tesla, which is preparing to launch its own autonomous ride-hailing service in California and Texas, and Alphabet’s Waymo, which recently rolled out its robotaxi service on Uber’s platform in Austin.

As part of the partnership, Avride’s IONIQ 5 cars will be retrofitted with the company’s self-driving technology and used exclusively on Uber’s platform in Dallas, Texas. These vehicles will be manufactured at Hyundai’s Metaplant facility in Georgia, and the two companies also aim to explore autonomous delivery services using Avride’s technology.

Avride’s connection with Hyundai is not new, as the startup was previously part of Russian company Yandex’s self-driving division and has collaborated with Hyundai’s automotive supply unit in the past to develop systems for autonomous vehicles.

Avride Partners with Grubhub to Expand Food Delivery Robots on U.S. Campuses

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Autonomous technology startup Avride has announced a partnership with food delivery company Grubhub to expand its fleet of food delivery robots across U.S. college campuses. The initiative aims to address labor shortages, lower delivery costs, and reduce reliance on cars for short-distance food transport.

Avride has already deployed its first fleet of 100 robots at Ohio State University, where it also plans to introduce its next-generation models. The university now relies exclusively on robot deliveries and also utilizes robots from other startups, such as Cartken.

“Campuses are almost ideal environments for introducing automation in delivery. They are relatively small areas with a high density of orders, which is where robots perform best,” Avride CEO Dmitry Polishchuk told Reuters. He also noted strong interest from other universities in adopting robotic delivery solutions.

Avride joins a growing number of companies, including Serve Robotics, in partnering with ride-hailing and delivery platforms to scale autonomous food delivery. In October, Avride announced a partnership with Uber for food delivery and robotaxi services, further expanding its presence in the autonomous mobility sector.

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, Avride has completed over 200,000 deliveries across five countries. The company was previously part of Yandex’s self-driving division but became independent following a corporate restructuring last year.