Uber Eats customers in the Phoenix metropolitan area may soon find their meals arriving in a rather futuristic fashion – courtesy of a Waymo self-driving car. This innovative delivery service, set to launch on Wednesday, is the result of a burgeoning partnership between Uber and Waymo, promising a new era in autonomous delivery.
The collaboration between Uber and Waymo, unveiled last year, initially focused on offering rides in Waymo’s self-driving vehicles in Phoenix. Now, with the introduction of autonomous deliveries through Uber Eats, the partnership is taking a significant step forward.
Phoenix becomes the seventh site for Uber Eats’ autonomous deliveries, but the first to utilize Waymo’s vehicles. Previous partnerships have seen Uber Eats team up with robotics companies such as Cartken, Motional, Nuro, and Serve Robotics for similar pilot programs in other markets.
Initially, the service will be limited to Uber Eats users in select areas of Phoenix, including Chandler, Mesa, and Tempe, with plans to expand to more locations in the future. Orders will be delivered using Waymo’s Jaguar I-PACE electric vehicles, aligning with both companies’ commitment to sustainable transportation.
Customers in areas serviced by Waymo can choose to have their orders delivered by a courier instead, with standard fees applying. Notably, tips will not be charged for orders delivered by Waymo vehicles.
In a blog post, Uber highlighted the joint mission of both companies to promote zero-emission trips and drive innovation in the delivery space. While there’s no confirmation yet on whether Waymo deliveries will expand to other cities, Waymo’s ride-hailing service is already operational in parts of Los Angeles and San Francisco, hinting at the potential for future expansion.
(Source: The Arizona Republic | Fast Company)
