Uber is bringing robotaxis to Dallas — though don’t expect them to ferry you around completely autonomously just yet.
The company partnered with Avride to launch the robotaxi service (which it actually calls “robotaxi,” a term popularized by Tesla) in Dallas, covering 9 square miles of the city at launch — from Downtown to Uptown to Turtle Creek to Deep Ellum.
Uber customers will be able to access the service simply by requesting an UberX, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric ride, though they cannot specifically choose a robotaxi. Instead, they may be matched with an electric Avride robotaxi, and they’ll have the option to switch to a non-robotaxi ride.
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Users can, however, increase their chances of getting matched with a robotaxi by opting in to the Ride Preferences section in the Uber app’s Settings.
While Uber says that Avride cars are design to operate fully autonomously, at launch there will be a driver behind the wheel, monitoring the car’s behavior. Fully driverless operations will begin “in the future,” said Uber.
With this move, the company joins Waymo and Tesla which already operate autonomous or semi-autonomous robotaxi services in Dallas.
Uber has previously partnered with other companies for its robotaxi service, including Lucid in the Bay Area, and Waymo in Austin and Atlanta.