Uber Gets Into On-Demand Deliveries With UberRush

The logistics race is heating up.

On-demand transportation company Uber announced Wednesday that in addition to transporting people via its UberX and town car services, and delivering lunches via UberEats and UberFresh, it will now transport, well, anything you want.

The service will roll out in San Francisco, Chicago and New York City this week, and will initially be available to businesses that want to use Uber as a delivery service — similar to Sidecar’s delivery program.

The service was piloted in New York City, where customers could request UberRush as a personal courier to send and receive packages. In San Francisco and Chicago, the service will at first be limited to businesses.

Drivers who wish to drive for UberRush will have to opt in and receive training on package deliveries.

An Uber spokesperson said the cost of UberRush deliveries will be comparable to Uber fares, and drivers can expect to service areas close to merchants.

Unlike Uber’s people delivery service, UberRush will not have surge pricing, a feature in which fares increase in response to demand.

In addition to opening its platform to businesses, Uber has also partnered with companies such as Shopify and ChowNow so clients of those platforms can plug UberRush into their storefronts and offer it as a delivery option.

The company plans to roll out the service to additional cities soon.