Uber adds robotaxis to Dallas via Avride — what to expect

Uber has started offering autonomous vehicle rides in Dallas in partnership with Avride. The service appears as an option in the Uber app starting today; initially the AVs will operate with a human safety driver in the front seat, with fully driverless service planned in the future.

Riders can increase their chances of being paired with a robotaxi by setting an AV preference in the app, and anyone assigned an AV will still have the option to switch to a traditional driver before the trip starts. Uber plans to begin with a small fleet of Avride’s Hyundai Ioniq 5 vehicles and expand to hundreds over time.

Key details

• Launch city: Dallas (service available in the Uber app starting today)
• Partner: Avride (using Hyundai Ioniq 5 vehicles)
• Initial operation: Safety driver onboard; fully driverless operation is a later goal
• Fleet plans: Small initial fleet with plans to scale to hundreds of AVs
• User control: App settings to prefer AVs and an option to switch to a human driver if assigned an AV

Context & partnerships

Uber has been deploying or testing robotaxis across multiple markets through several partnerships: Waymo in Austin and Atlanta, Lucid in the Bay Area, WeRide in Abu Dhabi, Momenta in Europe, and now Avride in Dallas. These collaborations reflect Uber’s strategy of integrating third‑party autonomous fleets into its rideshare marketplace rather than building and operating all AVs itself.

Safety, regulation and rider experience

Early operations with safety drivers onboard are common as companies scale AV service and work with local regulators. The presence of a human supervisor can ease regulatory approval and provide a safety fallback during edge‑case scenarios. For riders, the ability to opt out of an AV assignment adds a layer of choice while the technology and policies continue to mature.

Questions to consider

• How will pricing compare between AV rides and traditional driver trips?
• What safeguards and incident reporting processes are in place if something goes wrong?
• How quickly will the fleet expand, and what criteria will Uber and Avride use to move to driverless operation?

For now, Dallas riders can expect a gradual rollout and the usual caveats of an early‑stage autonomous service. If you plan to try an AV ride, check your Uber app for AV preference settings and the option to switch to a human driver.

Reference: reporting on the launch and partnerships is developing — see coverage for real‑time updates and official statements.

Discussion: Would you accept a robotaxi ride today if offered (with a safety driver), or wait until fully driverless service is common? What concerns or conveniences would influence your choice?