Uber Eats to Pilot Drone Deliveries with Flytrex — US trials by year-end
Uber Eats is partnering with Flytrex to test drone food deliveries in the United States, with pilot markets expected to launch by the end of the year. Flytrex — one of the companies authorized by the FAA for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations — already runs food deliveries in parts of the US and is working with major retailers on drone logistics.
Uber said the partnership and an accompanying investment in Flytrex will enable customers to receive orders within minutes while reducing road congestion. Sarfraz Maredia, President of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery at Uber, said this move brings “the speed and sustainability of drone delivery to the Uber Eats platform, at scale, for the first time.”
Background: Uber previously explored drone delivery under projects such as Uber Elevate and ran small tests (including McDonald’s deliveries) in 2020, but those efforts did not reach wide commercial release. This new partnership appears to aim for broader operational scale, leveraging Flytrex’s FAA BVLOS approvals and recent commercial activity.
What to know
- Partner: Uber Eats + Flytrex (Flytrex holds FAA BVLOS authorization)
- Goal: Deliver orders within minutes and reduce road traffic
- Timing: Pilot markets in the US planned by year-end
- Investment: Uber is investing in Flytrex to accelerate deployment
Sources and further reading:
- Flytrex official site — company overview and operational details.
- StreetInsider coverage of the Uber–Flytrex partnership — reporting on the planned pilot launch and partnership details.
Originally reported by Engadget (original article removed per request). If you want deeper regulatory confirmation, check FAA public records for BVLOS authorizations and Flytrex’s corporate updates.
Questions or local concerns? Comment below — we’ll share updates as the pilot areas and timelines are confirmed.