California-based delivery startup udelv is set to become one of the first companies in the world to test a custom-made autonomous delivery vehicle on public roads.
The test will include a safety driver, in compliance with existing California regulations, and will set off from a branch of Draeger’s Market in San Mateo, California in the next few weeks.
udelv believes that its new vehicle could result in a dramatic drop in the cost of local deliveries, add delivery window flexibility and significantly reduce the carbon emissions. The company’s goal is to test dozens of udelv vehicles on the roads in a few states within a short timeframe.
Led by Daniel Laury, CEO, and Akshat Patel, chief technical officer and former Tesla and Apple engineering team member, udelv is listed on the California DMV Autonomous Vehicle Tester Program under the name of CarOne.
Laury said, “McKinsey estimates that 80% of all package deliveries will be autonomous in the next decade. I am very proud that udelv will make history as the very first custom-made, public-road autonomous delivery vehicle. Our mission is to improve people’s lives. We will be releasing a continuous stream of innovations to fulfill that promise.”
The startup is backed by a group of investors that includes US and international venture capital funds, as well as private investors.
January 12, 2018