Asda is partnering with Wayve to trial self-driving delivery vans from early 2022.
The Leeds-based grocer has announced that it is partnering with autonomous mobility start-up Wayve to trial self-driving delivery vans as part of its last mile fulfilment operation.
The trial is set to start in early 2022, with Asda being the first retailer to test the solution commercially, using Wayve’s expertise in deep learning to help navigate complex urban delivery routes in London.
The autonomous vans will operate under the supervision of a Wayve Safety Driver throughout the 12-month trial, during which Asda and Wayve will use their expertise to help to integrate autonomy into the online grocery space and learn how the technology can shape the future of last mile delivery.
Commenting at the announcement of the new partnership, Asda’s VP of online grocery Simon Gregg said: “We want to explore how autonomous vehicle technology can enhance our operating model as well as the experience for our colleagues and customers. We are pleased to partner with Wayve on this trial. Over the course of the last year, demand for online groceries has grown significantly, and we continue to push new boundaries in terms of retail innovation and technologies that can help us develop the most sustainable last mile solutions for our business.”
No comments yet