DoorDash is expanding its push into autonomous logistics by launching its own drone-delivery business, DoorDash Air.
The new division is developed by DoorDash Labs, its robotics unit. It will design its own drones and build the supporting infrastructure needed to integrate aerial deliveries into the DoorDash app.
DoorDash said it has received Part 135 air carrier certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, allowing it to operate a commercial drone delivery service. The approval makes it one of only a handful of companies authorised to conduct commercial drone deliveries in the United States.
The company said its drone programme is intended to complement, rather than replace, its existing delivery network of human couriers, robots and third-party drone operators. An autonomous delivery platform will determine the most efficient delivery method for each order based on factors including distance, speed, cost and customer experience.
DoorDash believes drones can address one of the biggest inefficiencies in food delivery. Orders travelling between three and five miles account for more than 20% of deliveries but typically take about 25% longer to complete because of courier availability. The company said drones can complete many of those deliveries in less than 25 minutes.
DoorDash Air is being developed alongside the company’s existing autonomous technologies, including its Dot sidewalk delivery robot. The drones will be designed and manufactured in the United States using predominantly domestic components, while DoorDash will also build the ground infrastructure, routing software and handoff systems needed to support large-scale operations.
DoorDash has previously offered drone deliveries through partnerships with Alphabet’s Wing and Israeli drone company Flytrex. The company said those partnerships will continue even as it develops its own fleet, giving merchants and customers more delivery options.
The company has not disclosed where DoorDash Air will launch first but said additional details on its aircraft and commercial rollout will be announced later this year. The initiative underscores intensifying competition in autonomous delivery as companies including Amazon, Alphabet and Walmart continue investing in drone technology to speed up last-mile deliveries.
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Emmanuel Abara Benson is a business journalist and editor covering artificial intelligence, global markets, and emerging technology.
He has previously worked with Business Insider Africa and Nairametrics, reporting on finance, startups, and innovation.
His work focuses on AI, digital economy, and global tech trends.
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