Ford, Walmart, Argo AI Team Up to Launch Autonomous Vehicle Delivery Service

Walmart had previously partnered with General Motor's Cruise on a self-driving delivery pilot.

By Reuters | Updated: 15 September 2021 17:51 IST

Ford, Walmart, Argo AI Team Up to Launch Autonomous Vehicle Delivery Service

Ford's self-driving test vehicles with Argo's self-driving system will deliver the orders to customers

Highlights

Argo's cloud-based system will integrate with Walmart's online platform
The move comes as consumer expectation shift to next or same-day delivery
Initial integration testing is expected to begin later this year

Self-driving startup Argo AI, automaker Ford Motor and Walmart will together launch an autonomous vehicle delivery service in Miami, Austin, and Washington, DC, the companies said on Wednesday.

Initial integration testing is expected to begin later this year, the companies added.

The move comes as consumer expectations shift to next-day or same-day delivery, particularly in urban areas with a higher concentration of deliveries.

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The multi-city service will allow Walmart customers to place online orders of groceries and other popular items for autonomous delivery to their homes.

Argo's cloud-based system will integrate with Walmart's online ordering platform to route orders and schedule package deliveries. Ford's self-driving test vehicles with Argo's self-driving system will then deliver the orders to customers.

"This collaboration will further our mission to get products to the homes of our customers with unparalleled speed," said Tom Ward, senior vice president of last mile delivery at Walmart in the United States.

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Walmart had previously partnered with General Motor's Cruise on a self-driving delivery pilot and with self-driving vehicle startups Gatik and Nuro to explore delivery through autonomous vehicles.

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