Avride x Yandex

Yandex developed the Yandex Rover autonomous sidewalk delivery robot for its Yandex Eats and Yandex Shop delivery services, operating in Russian cities since 2019. The self-driving unit was spun off as [Avride](/companies/avride) in 2020, but Yandex Rover robots continue operating in Russia under the Yandex brand.

Autonomous-driving company (a subsidiary of Nebius; spun out of the former Yandex self-driving group) operating BOTH sidewalk delivery robots and robotaxis, primarily through a partnership with Uber announced in October 2024. Avride secured up to $375 million in strategic investment commitments from Uber and Nebius to support expansion. Robotaxi: Avride-equipped fully-electric [Hyundai](/companies/hyundai-group) Ioniq 5 vehicles provide public passenger rides on the Uber platform in Dallas (launched December 2025) and Austin, with in-vehicle safety operators present. Delivery: Avride sidewalk delivery robots operate on Uber Eats in Austin, Dallas, and Jersey City (and Philadelphia), and on Grubhub at university campuses including Ohio State. In May 2026, NHTSA opened an investigation into Avride after 16 robotaxi crashes (Dec 2025-March 2026) in Dallas and Austin, citing 'inappropriate assertiveness and insufficient competence'; the company's delivery robots have also drawn scrutiny including a Jersey City cyclist-injury lawsuit.