Uber and Avride Launch Robotaxi Service in Dallas

Uber has launched a new robotaxi service in Dallas, marking a significant expansion of its autonomous-vehicle strategy. Riders in select parts of the city can now be matched with an Avride robotaxi when requesting standard ride options such as UberX, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric — at no additional cost.

The initial launch covers a 9-square-mile zone, including Downtown, Uptown, Turtle Creek, and Deep Ellum. When matched with an autonomous vehicle, riders follow the same in-app workflow as with any Uber ride: they receive pickup instructions, unlock the vehicle through the app, and start the trip. At this stage, the cars are not fully driverless; each ride includes an on-board specialist behind the wheel as the companies move toward fully autonomous operations.

The rollout is part of Uber’s broader vision for a hybrid transportation network, blending human-driven rides with autonomous vehicles to improve availability during peak demand periods and reduce operational costs over time. Riders who want to increase their chances of being matched with an AV can enable the preference in the Uber app.

The project is backed by up to $375 million in investment from Uber and Nebius Group, Avride’s parent company. The funding is intended to help Avride scale its fleet, accelerate AI development, and expand deployment across additional markets.

Uber and Avride plan to expand their operating area as the program matures. The companies emphasize that the long-term goal is a transition to fully driverless service, positioning Dallas as an early testbed in the growing competition among robotaxi providers.

This summer, Uber announced a partnership with Lucid Motors and self-driving tech firm Nuro to invest $300 million in Lucid Gravity electric SUVs equipped with “Nuro Driver” system.

Cover photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash