Ford, Walmart to pilot autonomous grocery deliveries
Ford has tied up with Walmart to deliver groceries in a self-driving Blue Oval vehicle. Partnering with Postmates, a logistics company that operates a network of couriers, the pilot programme will kick start at Miami’s Dade County in Florida to deliver groceries and other household goods.
By autoX Editorial
Life as we know it is very hectic as we end up trying to juggle office work with household chores, not to forget, manage children’s busy schedule. How many times has it happened to you that after returning home from the office, you’re forced to drag yourself to the store for groceries? More often than we would like to recall, I’m sure. Well, there’s some good news for Walmart customers as Ford has tied up with the American multinational retail corporation to deliver groceries in a self-driving Blue Oval vehicle.
Partnering with Postmates, a logistics company that operates a network of couriers, the pilot programme will kick start at Miami’s Dade County in Florida to deliver groceries and other household goods. Over the next couple of months, Ford will be working closely with Walmart to understand its operations, identify what goods can feasibly be transported, and pinpoint any issues that may need to be addressed to successfully deliver orders via self-driving vehicles. Ford is also exploring different vehicle configurations or modifications that may be required to meet people’s needs like to accommodate perishable goods or make multiple deliveries on a single trip.
Ford is already collaborating with other companies to understand how to improve goods delivery through the use of self-driving vehicles, working to transport tacos, floral arrangements, dry cleaning and a number of other items. By teaming up with Walmart, this is the first time Ford has decided to explore how grocery delivery can help expand access to fresh food and other retail items for people all over America. With the help of Postmates delivery as a service, Ford is confident that they will be able to quickly set up a pilot programme that explores how the self-driving vehicles can complement Walmart’s existing delivery offerings.
Both Ford and Walmart believe that self-driving vehicles have an important role to play in the future of delivery and at the same time make people’s life a little bit easier.
