DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. and its associate Argo AI will quickly launch an autonomous car supply service with retail big Walmart in three U.S. cities, the businesses stated Wednesday.
The service, which can start later this 12 months in Miami, Washington and Austin, Texas, will use Ford Escape hybrid take a look at autos geared up with Argo expertise to ship Walmart orders to clients. The announcement comes almost three years after the businesses launched a pilot program in Miami exploring use circumstances for self-driving autos.
A spokesman stated the service will initially launch at one retailer in every metropolis, the place clients will have the ability to obtain deliveries in the event that they stay inside “outlined service areas” that can develop over time.
“Our give attention to the testing and improvement of self-driving expertise that operates in city areas the place buyer demand is excessive actually involves life with this collaboration,” Argo AI CEO Bryan Salesky stated in a press release. “Working along with Walmart and Ford throughout three markets, we’re displaying the potential for autonomous car supply companies at scale.”
Ford prior to now has collaborated with corporations similar to Postmates and Domino’s on autonomous car supply pilots. In July, Ford and Argo introduced plans to begin a self-driving ride-hailing service with Lyft Inc. in Miami and Austin by the top of the 12 months.
The automaker is trying to launch a self-driving car enterprise subsequent 12 months that can give attention to industrial companies.