DoorDash brings delivery robots to U.S.
A global on-demand delivery platform is expanding a pilot of autonomous delivery robots to two major U.S. metro areas.
DoorDash is bringing a pilot its international arm Wolt has been running in Helsinki, Finland with emissions-free Coco Robotics sidewalk delivery robots to Los Angeles and Chicago.
Eligible customers in those markets can see the availability of Coco’s fleet of emissions-free sidewalk robots and may have one assigned to their order from nearly 600 participating retailers through the DoorDash app.
During the initial pilot phase, DoorDash says Coco robots completed more than 100,000 deliveries for DoorDash customers.
"Not every delivery needs a two-ton car just to deliver two chicken sandwiches," said Harrison Shih, senior director of DoorDash Labs. "We believe the future of delivery will be multi-modal, and we’re thrilled to partner with Coco to expand sidewalk robot deliveries that complement the Dasher network as we continue to enhance the DoorDash experience for customers and merchants."
According to DoorDash, robotic delivery is part of a broader global multi-modal delivery platform strategy that integrates human drivers, drones, and autonomous robots in an effort to meet increasing demand while lowering costs and emissions.
DoorDash also recently began allowing select local consumers in Christianburg, Va. to order eligible menu items from Wendy’s and have them delivered via drones from Wing, the on-demand drone delivery provider powered by Google parent company Alphabet.
[READ MORE: DoorDash pilots U.S. delivery of Wendy’s orders with Wing drones]
This pilot followed a test program DoorDash and Wing launched in Australia in 2022 and has since expanded to three locations with over 60 participating retailers, marking the first time that Wing integrated its drone delivery service within another on-demand delivery marketplace.
Meanwhile, rival on-demand delivery platform Uber Eats has been piloting Coco Robotics sidewalk robots in both Miami and Los Angeles.
"We’re excited to expand our partnership with DoorDash, combining Coco’s AI robocourier platform with DoorDash's national scale and reach," said Zach Rash, co-founder and CEO of Coco Robotics. "This collaboration marks an important step forward in reshaping urban delivery in the US, starting with Los Angeles and Chicago, to offer retailers and customers a reliable, sustainable, and delightful delivery experience."
Founded in 2013, San Francisco-based DoorDash operates in more than 30 countries across the globe.
