Waymo and DoorDash have announced a partnership to introduce autonomous vehicle deliveries in Metro Phoenix, marking another step toward integrating self-driving technology into everyday commerce. The collaboration will allow DoorDash customers to receive groceries and meals from participating merchants via Waymo’s fully autonomous vehicles within a 315-square-mile service area.
According to Nicole Gavel, Head of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at Waymo, the goal is to make daily errands easier while ensuring safety through the company’s driverless technology. “We are excited to make everyday errands easier with the Waymo Driver, offering the added peace of mind that comes with our safe and reliable technology,” she said in the company’s press release.
The program will initially cover orders from DashMart, DoorDash’s convenience and grocery retail service, before expanding to include more local businesses. Users opting into autonomous vehicle delivery during checkout may be matched with a Waymo vehicle, retrieve their order through the DoorDash app, and complete the transaction without human contact.
David Richter, DoorDash’s Vice President of Business and Corporate Development, said the partnership aligns with the company’s broader goal of enhancing convenience for its users. “Together, we’re giving members access to, and savings on, a new and delightful experience, while advancing our vision for a multi-modal autonomous future of local commerce,” he said.
Waymo’s vehicles have logged over 100 million autonomous miles and completed more than 10 million trips, according to the company. The Phoenix pilot builds on Waymo’s long-standing presence in the region since 2016 and marks an expansion of its autonomous delivery capabilities alongside DoorDash’s existing community-driven initiatives.
Source: EVMagz