The American multinational transportation company, Uber on Wednesday announced the launch of autonomous robotaxi rides in Dallas, giving riders the ability to be matched with an Avride self-driving vehicle across a 9–square-mile service area.
The expanded pilot covers key Dallas neighborhoods, including Downtown, Uptown, Turtle Creek and Deep Ellum, with plans for additional territory in the future.
Starting immediately, riders requesting UberX, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric may be matched with an all-electric Avride robotaxi at no extra cost. Uber said riders will be notified each time they are paired with an autonomous vehicle and will have the option to switch to a non-AV ride.
Once the robotaxi arrives, riders can unlock the vehicle and begin their trip directly through the Uber app.
Avride’s vehicles are designed to operate as fully autonomous robotaxis. The company said an on-board specialist will monitor the vehicle during the initial rollout, with fully driverless operations planned for a later phase.
Uber emphasized safety requirements remain central to its autonomous strategy. All AVs on the Uber network must meet the company’s safety guidelines, and riders will have access to human support through the app at any time.
Riders interested in increasing their chances of receiving an autonomous vehicle can opt in under the Ride Preferences section in the app’s settings.
“We’re excited to launch autonomous rides in Dallas with Avride, as we continue to build toward an increasingly electric and autonomous future,” said Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s global head of autonomous. “With the world’s largest hybrid network, we’re proving how AVs and drivers can work side by side to make transportation more convenient, sustainable and affordable for people everywhere.”
Dmitry Polishchuk, CEO at Avride, said in a press release that the partnership marks a significant step for the company. “Robotaxis are what we’ve been building from day one, and we’re excited to begin introducing them in Dallas with our partners at Uber,” he said. “Building on the success of our autonomous delivery partnership, we’re now expanding our collaboration to passenger mobility.”
Uber said the launch aligns with its long-term vision of scaling a hybrid network where autonomous vehicles and human drivers operate together, improving access and affordability across urban transportation.
About Uber
Uber’s mission is to create opportunity through movement. Founded in 2010, the company has completed more than 68 billion trips worldwide. Uber provides products that move people, food and goods through cities, opening new possibilities across global markets.
What is Avride?
Avride is a U.S.-based autonomous vehicle company headquartered in Austin, Texas, with R&D hubs worldwide. The company develops autonomous cars and delivery robots using shared technologies, enabling scalable solutions for current and future mobility demands. Avride has focused on autonomous systems development since 2017.
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