DoorDash is expanding into sidewalk robot delivery in the US

The Verge - Apr 11th, 2025

DoorDash is expanding its automated food delivery services in the United States by partnering with sidewalk robot maker Coco. The collaboration is now live in Los Angeles and Chicago, where nearly 600 merchants are using the robots to deliver food and other goods. This initiative is part of DoorDash's strategy to become a 'multi-modal' platform, utilizing various delivery methods including drones and human drivers. The company has already completed over 100,000 deliveries worldwide with Coco during the pilot phase, aiming to reduce the reliance on traditional vehicle-based deliveries for smaller orders.

The partnership reflects a broader trend of food delivery services incorporating robotic solutions to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Competitors like Uber Eats have also experimented with different robot makers such as Cartken and Serve Robotics. Despite the potential benefits, challenges remain, including the need for teams to monitor the robots and address issues like vandalism and theft. This development signals a shift in the delivery industry towards more sustainable and versatile delivery options, which could significantly impact urban logistics and the gig economy landscape.

Door Dash Coco Robots Automated Delivery Harrison Shih Multi Modal Platform Robot Delivery Challenges Uber Eats Serve Robotics

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

7.6

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a comprehensive overview of DoorDash's expansion into robotic deliveries, highlighting the company's technological advancements and strategic partnerships. It is well-structured and clear, with a focus on the benefits and challenges of using delivery robots. While the story is accurate and timely, it could improve in terms of transparency and balance by incorporating more diverse perspectives and detailed explanations of the implications for stakeholders. The article is engaging and relevant, addressing topics of public interest such as automation and urban development, but it lacks depth in exploring potential controversies and regulatory challenges.

Accuracy

The story provides a largely accurate account of DoorDash's expansion into robot deliveries in the US. The claim that DoorDash's international arm, Wolt, has been experimenting with Coco's robots in Helsinki is confirmed by multiple sources. The expansion to Los Angeles and Chicago, involving nearly 600 merchants, aligns with the details provided. Furthermore, the story accurately cites DoorDash's multi-modal platform goal and the quote from Harrison Shih. However, the mention of Coco's previous use by Uber Eats lacks specific source confirmation, which slightly affects the overall accuracy.

Balance

The article provides a balanced view of DoorDash's technological advancements and partnerships. It highlights both the benefits and challenges of using delivery robots, such as operational difficulties and vandalism. However, the story predominantly focuses on the positive aspects of the technology, such as efficiency and environmental benefits. It could have incorporated more perspectives from stakeholders like human delivery drivers potentially affected by automation, or urban planners dealing with sidewalk congestion.

Clarity

The article is well-structured and uses clear, straightforward language to convey the main points. It logically progresses from international experiments to US expansion, making it easy to follow. However, the story could benefit from more detailed explanations of technical terms like 'multi-modal platform' to ensure all readers fully understand the content.

Source quality

The article references statements from DoorDash’s senior director and mentions specific partnerships and pilot programs, suggesting reliance on credible sources. However, it lacks direct citations or links to official press releases or statements from the companies involved, which would enhance its credibility. The absence of diverse sources, such as industry experts or academic perspectives, slightly reduces the score.

Transparency

The article provides some context about DoorDash's goals and operations but lacks detailed explanations of the methodology behind the robot deliveries or the criteria for selecting participating merchants. It does not disclose potential conflicts of interest, such as financial ties between DoorDash and Coco. Greater transparency about the challenges faced and the impact on existing delivery personnel would improve the score.