DoorDash and Wing Launch Drone Delivery Test in Virginia

DoorDash and Wing have expanded their drone delivery partnership to the United States, starting with a pilot program in Christiansburg, Virginia. The collaboration allows select local customers to order eligible items from Wendy’s through the DoorDash app and have them delivered by Wing’s drones.

Partnership Builds on Success in Australia

The US launch follows the successful drone delivery pilot program that DoorDash and Wing initiated in Australia in 2022. The Australian pilot has since grown to include three locations in Queensland, with more than 60 participating merchants. This marks the first instance of Wing integrating its drone delivery service within another marketplace.

Harrison Shih, senior director of DoorDash Labs, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership’s expansion to the US, reportedly stating, “At DoorDash, we are committed to advancing last-mile logistics by building a multi-modal delivery platform that serves all sides of our marketplace.”

Wing’s Growth and Focus on Partnerships

Cosimo Leipold, Head of Partnerships at Wing, highlighted the success of their initial collaboration with DoorDash in Australia, where Wing has served tens of thousands of customers through the DoorDash app for over a year. Wing has now completed more than 350,000 deliveries across three Countries and aims to provide a fast, affordable, and safe service to its partners.

How the Pilot Program Works

Eligible DoorDash customers in Christiansburg, Virginia, can place a qualifying order from the participating Wendy’s location and choose the drone delivery option at checkout. The meal is then prepared and packaged at Wendy’s and delivered by a Wing drone, typically within 30 minutes or less.

Benefits and Future Plans

Through this partnership, DoorDash seeks to offer an innovative, quick, and sustainable delivery option for small, short-distance orders while potentially increasing order growth across the platform. The pilot program, born out of DoorDash Labs, the company’s robotics and automation arm, is initially available in Christiansburg, with plans to expand to other US cities later this year.

The collaboration between DoorDash and Wing showcases the potential of drone delivery in the US market. By integrating Wing’s drone delivery service into DoorDash’s ecosystem, the partnership aims to improve last-mile logistics and provide consumers with efficient, sustainable, and convenient delivery options.