Uber is bringing a robo-taxi to Dallas — but don’t expect it to transport you completely autonomously just yet.
The company partnered with Avride to launch its 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, although they cannot specifically choose a robotaxi. Alternatively, they may be matched with an Avride electric robotaxi, and will have the option to switch to a non-robotaxi ride.
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However, users can increase their chances of getting a robo-taxi by opting in to the ride preferences section of the Uber app settings.
While Uber says Avride cars are designed to operate fully autonomously, when they launch there will be a driver behind the wheel, monitoring the car’s behavior. Uber said fully driverless operations will begin “in the future.”
With this move, the company joins Waymo and Tesla, which already operate automated or semi-autonomous taxi services in Dallas.
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Uber has previously teamed up with other companies on robo-taxis, including Lucid in the Bay Area, and Waymo in Austin and Atlanta.