Uber Technologies (NYSE: UBER) recently signed a 10-year agreement with robotics company Nuro to use Nuro's self-driving vehicles to deliver meals and other products to Uber Eats customers. This collaboration will begin in Houston, Texas and Mountain View, California, and then eventually move out toward other places like the Bay Area.
The second-generation R2 vehicle, which is much larger, yet much shorter, than most vehicles, is very atypical in terms of how it can travel. There is usually no room on the inside of the vehicles in terms of human passengers and drivers. This car's maximum speed is 45 mph and can hold about 500 pounds of weight.
Presently, the company of Nuro is priced at around $8.6 billion. It was discovered in 2016 by Dave Ferguson and Jiajun Zhu, and was one of the very first companies to have ever adopted entirely driverless vehicles as its model.
Regarding the partnership between Nuro and Uber, Noah Zych, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery at Uber, said, "Nuro and Uber share a vision in which technology can make everyday life just a little bit easier. Nuro's distinctive autonomous vehicles are a great match for the Uber platform, and this partnership will bring a compelling combination of innovation alongside the convenience, affordability and reliability our customers and merchants have come to expect."
The collaboration between Uber and Nuro demonstrates just how quickly the business is growing in terms of meals, groceries, or other items. It also serves as a chance for Uber and Nuro to develop and grow, as well as an enlargement of Uber's self-driving mobility and delivery services in general.
In terms of payment, Uber Eats customers will be required to pay the same amount whether it is through a Nuro bot or an actual person. Since bots are unable to take tips, however, this self-driving service might in the end work to customers' benefit.
"Our partnership with Uber underscores Nuro's track record of partnering with the world's leading brands to make autonomous delivery a seamless experience," said Cosimo Leipold, Head of Partnerships at Nuro. "With our unique autonomous delivery vehicles and Uber's phenomenal scale and reach, we can expand food delivery options from your favorite local mom-and-pop restaurants all the way to nationwide chains."