DoorDash and Coco Robotics have announced a major expansion of their partnership to bring autonomous sidewalk robot delivery service to more cities in the U.S. Following a successful pilot program with DoorDash’s international arm, Wolt, in Helsinki, this rollout now includes Los Angeles and Chicago.
Customers in these cities can place orders from nearly 600 participating merchants and receive deliveries using Coco’s fleet of emissions-free sidewalk robots.
This move highlights DoorDash’s commitment to sustainable, efficient last-mile logistics and a future where delivery is multimodal, combining robots, human couriers, and drones.
U.S. Cities Push to Expand Sidewalk Robot Delivery
The new service is now available in Los Angeles and Chicago, allowing customers to experience the convenience of robot deliveries through the DoorDash app. Coco’s robots operate on sidewalks, providing a quiet, emissions-free alternative to traditional vehicle deliveries.
This expansion builds on Coco’s earlier success in Helsinki and operations since 2020 in Los Angeles, with recent launches also in Miami. The partnership aims to reduce reliance on cars for short-distance deliveries, helping to lower urban congestion and pollution.
A Proven Pilot with over 100,000 Deliveries
During the initial pilot phase, Coco completed over 100,000 deliveries for DoorDash customers, demonstrating the viability and efficiency of robotic delivery in real-world urban settings. This milestone helped validate the technology and operational model, encouraging DoorDash to scale the program.
The robots have proven capable of handling busy urban environments and meeting customer expectations for timely delivery, reinforcing the potential for autonomous delivery to transform last-mile logistics.
Multi-Modal Delivery Strategy
DoorDash’s approach to delivery is evolving into a multi-modal offering platform that integrates human Dashers, autonomous robots, and drones. Harrison Shih, Senior Director of DoorDash Labs, emphasized that not every delivery requires a large vehicle, noting the efficiency of smaller, specialized delivery modes for certain orders.
This strategy aims to optimize delivery methods based on order size, distance, and environmental impact, ultimately enhancing the customer experience while reducing cost and emissions.
Environmental Benefits of Emissions-Free Delivery
The use of Coco sidewalk robots contributed significantly to reducing carbon footprints in urban logistics. These robots produce no emissions and can help cities reduce air pollution and traffic congestion compared to traditional delivery vehicles.
This aligns with increasing consumer and corporate demands for environmentally friendly delivery solutions. Through facilitating emissions-free shipments, DoorDash and Coco are at the forefront of environmentally friendly last-mile logistics.
Improving Urban Mobility and Retail Distribution
Robotic delivery is reshaping urban mobility by introducing new ways to efficiently deliver goods on crowded city sidewalks. Retailers benefit from faster, more reliable deliveries, which improve customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
For example, Main Chick Hot Chicken in Los Angeles reported that the robot delivery service helped them speed up food delivery during peak hours, resulting in happier customers and increased repeat business. This technology is helping retailers meet growing consumer demand for rapid, contactless delivery.
Technological Innovation and AI Integration
Coco Robotics combines artificial intelligence with advanced robotics to navigate complex urban environments safely and efficiently. Their AI-driven robocourier platform provides on-demand delivery routing and obstacle avoidance, ensuring reliable service.
This technological innovation marks a significant advancement in autonomous delivery systems, positioning Coco and DoorDash at the forefront of the logistics technology revolution.
DoorDash Labs and Autonomous Delivery Leadership
DoorDash Labs, the company’s robotics and automation division, spearheads the development of autonomous delivery solutions. In addition to robots, DoorDash Labs has also been experimenting with drone delivery, through partnerships with Wing, which has introduced drone deliveries in the U.S.
This multi-modal investment strategy demonstrates DoorDash’s commitment to creating a scalable, sustainable, and efficient delivery ecosystem that can adapt to diverse urban logistics challenges.
Scaling for the Future of Delivery
With more than 1,000 emission-free delivery robots in operation, Coco Robotics is scaling rapidly to keep up with rising demand. The expanded partnership with DoorDash will rely on its national reach and merchant network, allowing for widespread adoption of robot deliveries.
This scaling effort is a critical step toward mainstreaming autonomous delivery technologies and reshaping how goods move in metropolitan areas nationwide.
A New Era in Urban Delivery
The DoorDash and Coco Robotics partnership represents a transformative shift in urban delivery logistics. By integrating sidewalk robots into a multi-modal delivery platform, they are reducing emissions, lowering costs, and enhancing customer convenience.
This initiative not only addresses the challenges of last-mile delivery but also sets a new standard for sustainable, technology-driven urban commerce, signaling that the future of delivery is already here.
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