Uber partners with Starship Technologies to launch robot deliveries in the UK
Uber is taking a bold step into the future of food delivery as it partners with Starship Technologies to launch autonomous robot deliveries in the United Kingdom. The two companies have confirmed that the rollout will begin as early as December 2025, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of last-mile logistics. Uber’s global delivery arm, Uber Eats, will utilise Starship’s AI-powered sidewalk robots to bring meals from local merchants directly to customers’ doors.
Initially, the service will be limited to select areas of Leeds and Sheffield. These cities have been chosen for the first wave of robot deployments, with the aim of testing how well the autonomous technology integrates into the local environment. According to Uber, the robots are capable of covering up to two miles in a single delivery, completing the journey in under 30 minutes. This launch is not just a UK experiment; it’s positioned as the starting point for a much larger global plan. Uber and Starship intend to expand the service into additional European countries during 2026, and then into the United States by 2027.
The robots at the heart of this venture are no small novelty. Starship operates a fleet of more than 2,700 six-wheeled delivery bots globally, making it one of the most established autonomous delivery networks in the world. These machines use a blend of cameras, sensors and AI to navigate urban sidewalks, crossing roads and avoiding obstacles with a high degree of autonomy. For their Uber Eats delivery work in the UK, Starship’s robots will operate at “Level 4” autonomy, which means they can function without human intervention within their designated zones.
For Uber, this is more than a tech experiment; it is a strategic push to revolutionise how food delivery works at scale. In a statement, Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous at Uber, said that autonomous delivery is a core part of how Uber Eats sees its future. By combining its massive global reach with Starship’s proven robotic systems, Uber hopes to offer consumers a faster, cheaper and more efficient way to receive their orders. This move could also reduce the reliance on human couriers for some types of delivery, especially for short, lightweight orders.
From Starship’s perspective, the partnership underscores the maturity and viability of its model. The company has already completed more than nine million deliveries across seven countries, giving it real-world experience and data to refine its technology. Its co-founder and CEO, Ahti Heinla, who also helped co-create Skype, has emphasised that scaling is critical. “Together, we’re building the infrastructure that will define the next generation of urban logistics,” he said.
Launching in the UK also presents regulatory and societal challenges. While Starship’s robots have been operating in Britain for years, most notably in Milton Keynes, Northampton and other cities in partnership with retailers like Co-op, widespread adoption has been slower in part because of unclear legislation around sidewalk robots. Some commentators have pointed out that the UK’s rules are outdated; regulations for “personal delivery devices” are still evolving, which means that growth may depend on how local authorities react to this new form of mobility.
Critics also raise important questions: will these robots displace delivery workers, and how will the public respond to them trundling across pavements? Starship’s leader argues the opposite: that robots will not simply replace jobs but create new ones and enable deliveries in areas that were previously underserved. Public sentiment about the cute, six-wheeled machines tends to be broadly positive. Starship’s robots have become familiar in many communities, and previous deployments have shown they can survive scrapes, collisions, and the occasional curious human.
From a sustainability perspective, the robot delivery approach has real advantages. These autonomous machines are fully electric and produce no tailpipe emissions. This makes them a compelling solution for reducing congestion in urban areas and lowering the environmental impact of last-mile delivery. For both Uber and Starship, the move has the potential to align business growth with green ambitions.
As Uber and Starship gear up for their December launch, all eyes will be on Leeds and Sheffield to see how well this futuristic experiment performs in a practical, everyday setting. Will users embrace ordering meals delivered by robot? Will local authorities support this form of automation on their pavements? And can the technology truly scale beyond pilot cities to meet Uber’s ambitious global goals?
Regardless of the outcome, there is no doubt that the collaboration marks a defining moment in delivery logistics. It suggests a future in which the hum of electric motors, not combustion engines or bicycle chains, becomes the soundtrack of food delivery. If successful, Uber and Starship’s partnership could fundamentally reshape how people around the world receive take-out and it could be a blueprint for the next generation of urban mobility.
Read about our trip to The National Robotarium
Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates on tech and AI
