Uber is making a strategic investment and partnership with drone delivery company Zipline, with a goal of achieving one million daily deliveries through the startup's aircraft by the end of 2029. The two companies announced on Monday that Zipline drones will officially begin delivery operations on the Uber Eats platform by the end of this year. The project will initially launch in Zipline's existing operating markets, with plans to expand to "dozens of U.S. cities" in the future. The specific amount of this investment was not disclosed.

To drive continued growth in its food delivery business, Uber is engaging with multiple drone delivery partners. The ride-hailing giant is replicating the early-stage business model used for autonomous taxis and other self-driving ventures: connecting as many service providers as possible to its platform. Uber has previously divested its in-house projects, such as the air mobility division Uber Elevate and the autonomous driving technology unit Uber Autonomous Technologies Group, yet this platform partnership model has helped Uber stay at the forefront of new technologies. Investment is a key component of this strategy, with Uber having poured over $10 billion into dozens of autonomous driving service providers.

However, this approach is not foolproof. Uber recently hit a snag with Waymo, one of its most important partners, as the contract between them is set to expire in 2028, and the partnership is expected to conclude after that. Additionally, Uber and Waymo hold opposing positions in the industry's regulatory battles over autonomous driving.

Uber had previously tested drone delivery during the Elevate era. Late last year, it re-entered this arena by partnering with Israeli startup Flytrex, accompanied by a small investment. Uber stated that Zipline drones can cut Uber Eats order delivery times down to 5–10 minutes. In an interview, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said: "The instant commerce market has already shown its scale, even surpassing the traditional food delivery market. We believe this will be a massive boost for the next phase of growth in the delivery business."

San Francisco-based Zipline recently completed an additional Series H funding round, raising $800 million and bringing the company's valuation to $7.6 billion. Zipline co-founder Keller Clifton said in a statement: "Every major transportation revolution has changed how people live, how businesses operate, and how economies grow. Together with Uber, we are taking the next step toward a new world: getting what you need, wherever you are, as quickly and easily as sending a text message."