Agreement outpaces similar trials by Alphabet’s Wing
Life
Eoghan Huston, Manna
Uber is expanding its activities into drone delivery with a new partnership with Dublin-based Manna. The first service of its kind in Europe, Uber aims to offer this service in other European cities as well.
Uber said drone delivery has the potential to revolutionise the way people receive goods, ensuring that everything from meals to everyday essentials can be delivered in minutes rather than hours.
This move follows Uber’s collaboration with Flytrex in the US last September to launch a similar service aimed at reducing delivery times, costs and emissions compared with traditional methods. Manna has carried out more than 250,000 successful drone deliveries across Europe and also works with JustEat and Takeaway.com for deliveries. Outside Ireland, Manna has conducted tests in other countries, such as Finland and Texas.
Eoghan Huston, COO of Manna (pictured), said: “This partnership with Uber marks a defining moment for drone delivery. Our focus remains simple: build the safest, fastest and most sustainable delivery infrastructure in the world.”
Uber is not the only one exploring drone delivery in Europe. Alphabet has tested its Wing drone delivery service in Switzerland, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Finland. Aviant started deliveries last year in Lillehammer, Norway, offering up to 1.5kg of goods such as medicines, groceries and takeaway meals.
While others are making progress, Amazon’s attempt to set up a drone delivery service in Italy was cancelled last December due to regulatory challenges, Reuters reported.
Business AM