Zipline, a drone delivery specialist, has entered a strategic partnership with Uber to scale drone deliveries across the US.
The first deliveries are to be completed later this year, when Uber Eats customers will have the option to receive their orders ‘in minutes’ via Zipline’s autonomous drone delivery.
Uber will also make a strategic investment in Zipline. Together, the companies have targeted one million drone deliveries per day by the end of 2029.
Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, said, “Together, we’re shaping the future of delivery by creating a faster, more sustainable way for people to get what they need. We look forward to bringing this technology to more communities and making autonomous delivery part of everyday life.”
Keller Cliffton, co-founder of Zipline, added, “Every great transportation revolution has changed where people live, how businesses operate and how economies grow. Together with Uber, we’re taking the next step toward building a world where getting what you need is as fast and effortless as sending a text, no matter where you are.”
The companies said drones have the potential to transform delivery by cutting delivery times, costs and emissions compared with traditional methods, making it possible for everyday items to arrive in a matter of minutes.
Zipline, which claims to be the largest drone delivery service in the world, operates on four continents. It has built its international logistics network over 10 years, serving more than 5,000 hospitals and health facilities.
In related news, last-mile delivery drone market set to reach $10.77bn by 2033