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Uber Sells Entire Stake In Serve Robotics As Partnership Cools

Uber has sold its entire stake in Serve Robotics, the autonomous delivery company that spun out of Uber-owned Postmates more than five years ago.

The sale was disclosed in a regulatory filing, marking the end of Uber’s investment in the robotics company after years of backing and partnership.

From Postmates Division To Independent Company

Serve Robotics began as Postmates X, the robotics division of delivery startup Postmates, which Uber acquired for $2.65 billion in 2020.

The unit became an independent company called Serve Robotics in 2021. Uber remained an investor and later partnered with Serve to bring its sidewalk delivery robots to Uber Eats.

In 2023, the companies expanded the agreement to deploy up to 2,000 Serve robots across multiple U.S. markets.

Partnership Had Already Started To Weaken

Uber’s exit follows signs that the relationship was becoming less closely aligned.

Serve Robotics CEO and co-founder Ali Kashani said delivery volumes through Uber grew for 17 consecutive quarters from early 2022 through the first quarter of 2026. That trend reversed in the second quarter, which he attributed to lower-than-expected robot utilisation.

Kashani also said the two companies had “differing views” on how to scale their shared autonomous fleet, including fleet coordination and merchant integration. At the same time, Serve reported that deliveries through another food delivery partner increased by nearly 50% in a single quarter.

Serve did not expect to renew its partnership with Uber when the current agreement expires in early 2027, according to Kashani.

Uber Continues To Expand Its Autonomous Network

The divestment comes as Uber continues to work with companies developing autonomous vehicles and delivery technology. Serve Robotics is one of more than 30 autonomous vehicle technology companies that Uber has partnered with or invested in over the past several years.

The sale marks a significant shift in the relationship between the two companies, which once worked closely to bring autonomous delivery robots to Uber Eats customers.

Cyprus’ Strong Youth Employment Rate Still Does Not Guarantee Early Independence

Young people in Cyprus have a relatively high employment rate, but they leave the parental home later than the EU average, according to Eurostat data.

Cypriots left home at an average age of 27 in 2025, compared with 26.3 years across the EU. At the same time, 72.3% of people aged 20 to 29 in Cyprus were employed, well above the EU average of 65.5%.

Strong Employment Does Not Mean Early Independence

Only nine countries recorded higher youth employment rates than Cyprus. Iceland led at 85.3%, followed by the Netherlands at 84%, Malta at 82.1%, Switzerland at 78.3% and Germany at 77%.

Norway recorded 76.5%, Ireland 76.1%, Denmark 74.8% and Austria 74.6%. Eurostat said countries where young people leave home earlier generally tend to have higher youth employment rates.

Southern Europe Sees Later Moves

Finland had the lowest average age for leaving the parental home at 21.4 years, followed by Denmark at 21.8 and Estonia and Lithuania at 22.7. Croatia recorded the highest average at 31.5 years, followed by Greece and Slovakia at 30.9. Spain and Italy both stood at 30.2 years.

Across the EU, the average has remained close to 26 since 2002, rising only slightly from 26.2 years in 2024 to 26.3 years in 2025.

Cyprus Labour Market Is Cooling

The figures come as Cyprus’ labor market shows some signs of easing, although demand for workers remains relatively strong by European standards.

Separate Eurostat data showed Cyprus had the EU’s largest annual decline in its job vacancy rate in the second quarter of 2026. The rate fell to 2.6% from 3.3% a year earlier, but remained above the EU average of 2.0% and the euro area average of 2.1%.

Cost Of Living Remains A Factor

Housing and other living costs can also affect how quickly young workers establish independent households. Eurostat reported that Cyprus’ household consumption price level was 89.2% of the EU average in 2025.

A relatively lower overall price level does not eliminate affordability pressures for people on modest incomes. For younger workers, the issue can be whether wages are sufficient to cover rent, utilities, food and other basic expenses.

Cyprus therefore combines relatively high youth employment with a later transition to independent living, suggesting that access to work and the ability to afford a separate household do not always move together.

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