Key HighlightsUber Technologies has formed a strategic alliance with Zipline to launch drone-based food delivery throughout the United States.The ride-hailing company has taken an equity stake in Zipline, with investment terms remaining confidential.Both organizations aim to achieve one million daily drone-based deliveries by December 2029.Initial service rollout will begin in cities where Zipline currently operates, followed by expansion to multiple metropolitan areas.Following an $800 million Series H funding round this year, Zipline now carries a $7.6 billion valuation.On Monday, Uber Technologies and drone delivery specialist Zipline revealed their collaboration to introduce autonomous aerial delivery services for Uber Eats users nationwide. The agreement includes an undisclosed strategic investment from Uber into Zipline’s operations.$UBER is investing in Zipline as the companies expand drone delivery for Uber Eats. The goal is to reach 1M drone deliveries per day by the end of 2029, with Uber expecting faster deliveries over longer distances and drones to become a meaningful growth driver for Eats. pic.twitter.com/i69x7NBf0g— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) August 17, 2026Following the announcement, Uber stock experienced a 0.95% increase.Uber Technologies, Inc., UBERThe partnership sets an ambitious benchmark of one million aerial deliveries daily by late 2029. Initial operations are scheduled to commence before year-end.Deployment will begin in metropolitan areas where Zipline maintains current operations, with expansion plans covering dozens of new urban centers. The drone company operates globally across four continents and has successfully completed over 2 million deliveries since inception.Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi highlighted drone delivery as a significant catalyst for Uber Eats expansion. “Truly quick commerce is proving to be an even bigger market than the original food market was,” Khosrowshahi stated. “We think this can be an enormous tailwind for the next leg of growth for Eats.”The platform anticipates Zipline’s aerial technology will complete customer orders in approximately five to ten minutes.Uber’s Multi-Partner Approach to Aerial DeliveryThis collaboration builds upon Uber’s previous alliance with Israeli company Flytrex, announced last year, which similarly involved a minority stake investment. The technology giant has been systematically expanding its drone delivery partnerships as part of its Uber Eats growth initiative.The strategy parallels Uber’s methodology with self-driving vehicles: integrate multiple technology partners onto its platform instead of developing proprietary solutions. Through this approach, Uber has allocated over $10 billion across numerous autonomous vehicle providers.However, this partnership model has encountered challenges. The once-prominent collaboration between Uber and Waymo is anticipated to conclude when their agreements expire in 2028.Zipline’s Growing American OperationsSan Francisco-based Zipline has established commercial agreements with retail giant Walmart and over a dozen food service brands, including Panera, Chipotle, and Wendy’s.The autonomous delivery firm recently finalized an extended Series H financing round totaling $800 million, elevating its corporate valuation to $7.6 billion.Keller Cliffton, Zipline’s co-founder, stated: “Together with Uber, we’re taking the next step toward building a world where getting what you need is as fast and effortless as sending a text, no matter where you are.”Uber initially ventured into drone delivery through its Elevate division, which was subsequently divested before the company re-engaged in the sector through external partnerships.The post Uber (UBER) Stock Climbs as Zipline Drone Partnership Launches Nationwide appeared first on Blockonomi.