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Uber and Nebius-owned Avride have launched a new robotaxi service in Dallas, kicking off one of the most notable autonomous mobility pilots the city has seen to date. The announcement pushed Uber shares up 2% in premarket trading, while Avride parent Nebius Group NV gained 1.4% as investors responded to the expanding partnership.

The rollout folds autonomous rides directly into UberX, Uber Comfort, and Uber Comfort Electric, meaning Dallas riders may now be paired with a self-driving Avride vehicle at no added cost. For many users, this marks the first time robotaxis appear as a seamless alternative rather than a separate experimental service.

A 9-square-mile launch zone with big expansion plans

The first phase covers a dense 9-square-mile stretch of Dallas that includes Downtown, Uptown, Turtle Creek, and Deep Ellum, four neighborhoods known for heavy foot traffic, nightlife, and business activity. Industry analysts say this geography is ideal for early autonomous operations: predictable grids, high ride volume, and strong 5G connectivity.

Uber and Avride confirmed the area is only the beginning. Expansion into surrounding residential and commercial corridors is already planned, with insiders noting the city’s fast-growing tech ecosystem helped fast-track regulatory cooperation.

For the launch period, each vehicle will include an on-board safety specialist positioned behind the wheel. The companies say the goal is to move toward fully driverless rides after data collection, local mapping, and safety validations meet Uber’s internal autonomous benchmarks.

To increase their chances of being matched with a robotaxi, riders can opt in through the Ride Preferences menu, a move that also provides Uber with early demand signals.

Uber doubles down on an autonomous future

“We’re excited to launch autonomous rides in Dallas with Avride as we continue to build toward an increasingly electric and autonomous future,” said Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous. The rollout expands on Uber and Avride’s earlier autonomous delivery collaboration, which has been operating quietly but consistently across testing markets.

Avride CEO Dmitry Polishchuk said robotaxis have been the company’s north star “from day one,” describing Dallas as a proving ground for years of engineering and simulation work.

Riders can unlock the car, verify the trip, and begin their ride entirely through the Uber app, no separate downloads, accounts, or interfaces. Human support is available through integrated help channels, and Uber emphasized that all autonomous partners must satisfy its safety protocols, which include real-time monitoring and strict hardware requirements.

How is the Industry reacting?

The Dallas tech community reacted quickly online. Local founders and mobility advocates called the rollout “a milestone for Texas innovation,” noting that the city has become a hotspot for commercial AV pilots. But some residents expressed caution on social platforms, questioning road-readiness after previous high-profile AV incidents in other states.

Still, analysts see momentum. Compared with competing robotaxi programs in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Las Vegas, Uber’s approach stands out for its integration into a mainstream app, reducing friction and avoiding the “experimental” label that has slowed adoption elsewhere.

Uber’s move places competitive pressure on Waymo, Cruise (now cautiously returning after its 2023 setback), and Zoox. Unlike those companies, Uber is taking a partnership-first approach rather than building proprietary self-driving hardware. Investors consider this strategy less capital-intensive and more scalable, aligning with CEO Dara Khosrowshahi’s broader asset-light model.

Dallas becomes a national test stage

With Texas emerging as one of the most AV-friendly states, the success of the Dallas rollout will be watched closely by regulators, investors, and urban planners. If adoption grows steadily, the city could become a blueprint for large-scale robotaxi integration across the U.S.

For now, Dallas residents can claim a small slice of the transportation future, one ride request at a time.