TLDR
- Uber and Zipline have announced a partnership to bring drone delivery to Uber Eats customers across the US.
- Uber has made a strategic investment in Zipline, though financial details were not disclosed.
- The companies are targeting 1 million drone deliveries per day by end of 2029.
- First deliveries will launch in Zipline’s existing US markets before expanding to dozens of cities.
- Zipline is valued at $7.6 billion after closing an $800 million Series H round earlier this year.
Uber Technologies and Zipline announced a partnership on Monday to bring autonomous drone delivery to Uber Eats customers across the United States. Uber also made a strategic investment in Zipline, though neither company disclosed the dollar amount.
$UBER is investing in Zipline as the companies expand drone delivery for Uber Eats. The goal is to reach 1M drone deliveries per day by the end of 2029, with Uber expecting faster deliveries over longer distances and drones to become a meaningful growth driver for Eats. pic.twitter.com/i69x7NBf0g
— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) August 17, 2026
Uber stock was up 0.95% on the news.
The companies are targeting 1 million drone deliveries per day by the end of 2029. First deliveries are expected to launch before the end of this year.
The service will start in Zipline’s existing US markets, with plans to expand into dozens of additional cities. Zipline already operates across four continents and has completed 2 million deliveries to date.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told the Wall Street Journal that drone delivery could be a major growth driver for Eats. “Truly quick commerce is proving to be an even bigger market than the original food market was,” he said. “We think this can be an enormous tailwind for the next leg of growth for Eats.”
Uber expects Zipline’s drones to fulfill orders within five to ten minutes.
Uber’s Drone Delivery Strategy
This deal follows a similar partnership Uber struck with Israeli startup Flytrex last year, which also included a minority investment. Uber has been building out its drone delivery roster as part of a broader strategy to grow Uber Eats.
The approach mirrors how Uber has handled autonomous vehicles: bring multiple partners onto the platform rather than build the technology in-house. Uber has committed more than $10 billion to dozens of autonomous vehicle providers using this model.
That strategy has not been without friction. Uber and Waymo, once a high-profile AV partnership, are now expected to part ways when their contracts expire in 2028.
Zipline’s US Footprint
Zipline, headquartered in San Francisco, already has commercial relationships with Walmart and more than a dozen restaurant brands including Panera, Chipotle, and Wendy’s.
The company recently closed an extended Series H round of $800 million, pushing its valuation to $7.6 billion.
Zipline co-founder Keller Cliffton said in a statement: “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.”
Uber previously explored drone delivery through its now-sold Elevate division before returning to the space via third-party partnerships.
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