Uber has launched a commercial robotaxi service in Dallas in partnership with autonomous vehicle startup Avride, allowing riders to be matched with self-driving electric vehicles operating with a human safety driver and within a limited operating area.
The service begins about a year after Uber announced a partnership with Avride to expand its network of autonomous technology providers for both ride-hailing and food delivery. The Dallas fleet consists of all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 vehicles equipped with Avride’s self-driving system and currently operates across a nine-square-mile section of the city that includes downtown. Uber plans to expand both the service area and the fleet size in the coming months, with fully driverless operations targeted for a later phase.
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The launch comes as Uber accelerates its global autonomous vehicle strategy. The company has built around 20 partnerships across robotaxis, freight and delivery, including collaborations with Waymo, China’s WeRide and San Francisco-based startup Nuro. Uber currently offers autonomous rides in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh with WeRide, and in Atlanta, Austin and Phoenix through Waymo. The company has said it plans to have autonomous vehicles operating on its platform in at least 10 cities by the end of 2026.
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Avride, an Austin-based company under parent group Nebius, has also expanded through vehicle and technology partnerships. In March 2025, Hyundai partnered with Avride to develop fully autonomous ride-hailing vehicles, with plans to deploy 100 self-driving Hyundai Ioniq 5 SUVs. In October 2025, Avride secured up to $375 million in strategic investments and commercial commitments from Uber and Nebius to scale its artificial intelligence-driven autonomous systems and accelerate market expansion.
Under the Dallas operating model, Avride will initially manage its robotaxi fleet, while Uber is expected to take over day-to-day fleet operations including charging, maintenance, inspections and depot management. Uber riders requesting UberX, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric may be matched with a robotaxi at standard fares and can choose whether to accept the autonomous ride or switch to a vehicle operated by a human driver through the app.
