Uber Eats and Starship to Launch Autonomous Sidewalk Robot Delivery in December

Core Insights - Uber Technologies and Starship Technologies are set to launch autonomous sidewalk robot delivery for Uber Eats by the end of the year, starting in Leeds, UK, in December, with plans for expansion to several European countries in 2026 and the United States in 2027 [2][3] Group 1: Partnership and Expansion Plans - The partnership combines Uber's mobility and delivery platform with Starship's autonomous delivery technology, aiming to enhance delivery efficiency [2] - The rollout will utilize Starship's AI-powered robots to complete deliveries in under 30 minutes for distances up to two miles [3] Group 2: Company Background and Growth - Starship Technologies, founded in 2014, has a fleet of 2,700 robots that have completed over 9 million deliveries across seven countries, with plans to expand to over 12,000 robots by 2027 [4] - Starship raised $50 million in a Series C funding round in October to expand its services to American urban markets and additional European cities [6] Group 3: Industry Impact and Vision - The collaboration is seen as a step towards defining the next generation of urban logistics, leveraging Uber's extensive delivery network and Starship's scalable autonomous technology [5] - Starship's CEO highlighted the profitability and operational success of their autonomous technology, indicating a significant shift in urban goods movement [6]