Uber Technologies, Inc. (UBER) shares climbed Wednesday after announcing that Dallas riders can now hail an Avride robotaxi directly through the Uber app. The twist? You won't pay extra for the privilege of riding in a car with no driver.

The service currently operates across nine square miles of Dallas, covering popular areas like Downtown, Uptown, Turtle Creek, and Deep Ellum. If you request an UberX, Comfort, or Comfort Electric ride in these zones, you might find yourself matched with an electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 robotaxi instead of a human driver. The entire experience—unlocking the car, starting your ride—happens through the standard Uber app, no special settings required.

Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous at Uber, framed the launch as proof of concept for a hybrid future. "With the world's largest hybrid network, we're proving how AVs and drivers can work side by side to make transportation more convenient, sustainable, and affordable for people everywhere," he said.

That hybrid approach sets Uber apart in the robotaxi race. Rather than betting entirely on autonomous vehicles replacing human drivers, the company is building a network where both coexist. Need a ride? The app will match you with whoever (or whatever) is closest and available.

Building Momentum

The Dallas launch isn't happening in isolation. Last month, Uber partnered with WeRide Inc. (WRD) to launch Level 4 fully driverless robotaxi commercial operations in Abu Dhabi. That's the real deal—no safety driver, no human backup, just autonomous vehicles navigating city streets.

Uber has also been expanding its autonomous delivery operations. The company recently launched a partnership with Shake Shack Inc. (SHAK) and sidewalk-robot operator Coco Robotics to deliver burgers via small robots in Chicago. Apparently, your Shack Burger doesn't even need a full-sized vehicle to reach your door.

The company plans to expand the Dallas service area over time, though specific timelines and coverage zones weren't disclosed. For now, those nine square miles serve as a testing ground for how robotaxis and human drivers can share the road—and the same app platform.

UBER Price Action: Uber Technologies shares were up 3.43% at $90.57 at the time of publication on Wednesday.