Uber Sells Entire Serve Robotics Stake as Delivery Partnership Fractures
Uber sold its entire Serve Robotics stake as robot use fell, while the companies differ on scaling and may end their delivery partnership in early 2027.
Summary
TechCrunch reported on August 11, 2026, that Uber disclosed in a regulatory filing, first reported by Bloomberg, the sale of its entire Serve Robotics stake. Filings show Uber began reducing its holding in 2025, but the final exit surprised Serve, which learned through the official disclosure, according to a source familiar with events. Uber was not immediately available for comment. Serve originated as Postmates X, the robotics division of Postmates, which Uber acquired for $2.65 billion in 2020. It became independent as Serve Robotics in 2021, taking its name from Postmates X’s autonomous sidewalk delivery robot.
Uber backed Serve and formed a delivery partnership in 2022, then expanded it in May 2023 to place up to 2,000 Serve robots on Uber’s app across multiple United States markets. On Serve’s August 6 second-quarter earnings call, co-founder and CEO Ali Kashani said Uber delivery volume grew for 17 consecutive quarters, from the first quarter of 2022 through the first quarter of 2026, before declining in the second quarter because of lower-than-expected robot utilization. Kashani cited differing views on fleet coordination, merchant integration and the operating model for scaling their shared autonomous fleet. Deliveries through another food delivery partner rose nearly 50% in one quarter, and Serve does not expect to renew Uber’s agreement when it expires in early 2027. Serve is among more than 30 autonomous vehicle technology companies Uber has partnered with or invested in during recent years.
Positives
- Uber delivery volume grew for 17 consecutive quarters, from the first quarter of 2022 through the first quarter of 2026.
- Deliveries through another food delivery partner increased nearly 50% in one quarter, providing Serve Robotics with an alternative growth channel.
- The May 2023 expansion targeted deployment of up to 2,000 Serve sidewalk robots across multiple United States markets.
- Serve Robotics has operated independently since its 2021 spinout from Postmates X.
Risks & concerns
- Uber sold its entire Serve Robotics stake after regulatory filings showed it had already reduced the holding during 2025.
- Serve Robotics learned about Uber’s final divestiture only after the official disclosure, according to a source familiar with events.
- Second-quarter Uber delivery volume declined for the first time after 17 consecutive growth quarters because robot utilization missed expectations.
- Uber and Serve disagree about fleet coordination, merchant integration and the operating model needed to scale their shared autonomous fleet.
- Serve does not expect to renew its Uber partnership when the agreement expires in early 2027.