Key Takeaways
Uber and Zipline announced a drone delivery partnership on August 17, targeting one million drone deliveries a day on Uber Eats by the end of 2029.
Serve Robotics said the same day it will deliver Grubhub orders with sidewalk robots in Chicago, Los Angeles and Alexandria, days after its Uber Eats deal ended.
Both bets aim at the cost of last-mile food delivery, as fees and convenience charges push restaurant orders higher.
Two deals announced on August 17 pushed automated food delivery closer to the mainstream. Uber and Zipline said they will bring drone delivery to Uber Eats, targeting one million drone deliveries a day by the end of 2029, and Serve Robotics said it will fulfill Grubhub orders with its sidewalk robots.
Uber and Zipline plan to start later this year in Dallas and Houston, then expand to dozens of US cities. Uber is also making a strategic investment in Zipline, and Uber Eats customers in those markets will be able to choose drone delivery for orders that arrive in minutes.
Serve's Grubhub deal launches in Chicago, Los Angeles and Alexandria, with robot delivery available from more than 100 Grubhub merchants in Chicago and nearly 200 in Los Angeles. The move came days after Serve's tie-up with Uber Eats ended and Uber exited its stake, and Serve also expanded a separate deal with DoorDash.
The economics are the story. Delivery fees and the so-called convenience tax have made restaurant orders expensive, and both companies are betting that drones and robots cut the cost of the last mile. The pattern here is hard to ignore, the biggest delivery platforms racing to take the driver out of the trip.
The push fits a broader shift the newsroom has covered, from live commerce platforms scaling fast to a strained US food system where a farm bill stalled and food banks report record demand. Worth watching whether automation lowers the price of a meal or just moves the cost around.
People Also Ask
What did Uber and Zipline announce?
A partnership to bring drone delivery to Uber Eats, starting later in 2026 in Dallas and Houston and targeting one million drone deliveries a day by the end of 2029.
What is the Serve Robotics Grubhub deal?
Serve Robotics will fulfill Grubhub orders with its sidewalk delivery robots in Chicago, Los Angeles and Alexandria, expanding its autonomous delivery network.
Why are companies automating food delivery?
To cut the cost of the last mile, as delivery fees and convenience charges have made restaurant orders more expensive for customers.
Did Serve Robotics lose its Uber Eats partnership?
Yes. Serve's tie-up with Uber Eats ended and Uber exited its stake, and Serve added Grubhub and expanded its DoorDash deal in response.