Uber Eats is partnering with autonomous drone company Zipline to begin food deliveries by drone in the US, with both companies targeting one million drone deliveries per day by 2029.

Uber is taking another step into autonomous delivery through a new partnership with drone delivery company Zipline, bringing drone-powered food deliveries to Uber Eats customers in the United States.

The companies announced the partnership on Monday and expect the first drone deliveries to begin in the US later this year.

The two companies are targeting one million drone deliveries per day by the end of 2029, signalling an ambition to make autonomous delivery a major part of Uber's logistics network.

Uber is also making a strategic investment in Zipline, although the companies have not disclosed the amount.

Uber Eats moves beyond human couriers

Under the partnership, eligible Uber Eats orders will be delivered using Zipline's autonomous drones.

Zipline says its drones could complete deliveries in approximately five to 10 minutes, potentially making them much faster than conventional delivery for shorter-distance orders.

The service will initially launch in locations where Zipline already operates in the US before expanding to additional cities.

For Uber, the partnership is part of a broader strategy to build a delivery network that doesn't rely entirely on human drivers.

The company envisions combining human couriers, sidewalk delivery robots and autonomous drones, with different methods selected depending on factors such as the order and delivery location.

This could allow smaller and time-sensitive orders to be delivered more quickly while giving Uber greater flexibility in managing its delivery network.

Africa won't get the service — yet

Despite Zipline's extensive operations across Africa, the initial Uber Eats drone rollout will be limited to the United States.

Zipline already operates in countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire.

However, its African operations have primarily focused on healthcare logistics rather than food delivery.

The company uses autonomous drones to transport medical supplies to hospitals and healthcare facilities, particularly in areas where conventional transportation can be slower or difficult.

Zipline says it has completed more than 2.7 million deliveries globally and serves more than 5,000 hospitals and health facilities.

Could Kenya become an early African market?

Kenya presents an interesting possibility because both companies already have operations there.

Uber Eats has an established food-delivery business in Kenya, while Zipline operates drone logistics in the country.

However, neither company has announced plans to introduce drone-powered Uber Eats deliveries in Kenya or elsewhere in Africa.

That means the current partnership remains focused on the US, although Zipline's existing African infrastructure could potentially support future expansion.

Why drones matter for food delivery

Food delivery is particularly suitable for autonomous drones because many orders are relatively small, time-sensitive and travel relatively short distances.

Drones can also bypass road traffic, potentially making delivery times faster and more predictable in congested cities.

For Uber, the technology could also improve the economics of delivery by reducing its reliance on traditional courier networks.

Instead of using one delivery model for every order, Uber could eventually operate a hybrid system in which people, robots and drones work together.

What it could mean for Africa

The US rollout does not guarantee that Uber Eats drones will eventually launch in Africa.

However, Zipline's existing presence on the continent provides an interesting foundation for future expansion.

Cities such as Lagos, Nairobi and Accra face significant traffic congestion and long travel times — precisely the types of challenges that could make autonomous delivery attractive.

Zipline has already demonstrated that drone logistics can operate at scale in several African countries, although primarily for healthcare.

If the Uber-Zipline partnership proves successful in the US, Africa could eventually become an important market for autonomous food delivery.

For now, Uber's drone experiment is US-first. But its success could determine whether drones become a mainstream part of how food gets delivered around the world.