DoorDash is building its own drone delivery business

Core Impact Points

• DoorDash Air has received a Part 135 air carrier certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, allowing it to operate a commercial drone delivery service in the United States.
• The company's custom-built drones will initially be used in limited pilot programs, traveling short distances while remaining within the line of sight of the operator.
• DoorDash is maintaining its existing partnerships with Wing and Flytrex, and its drone delivery business will eventually operate within the company's delivery app.
• The Autonomous Delivery Platform, developed by DoorDash Labs, will handle the coordination challenge of determining the best mode of delivery, including human drivers, drones, or sidewalk bots.
• DoorDash's co-founder and chief product officer Stanley Tang emphasized that the company's focus is on solving customer problems, rather than just developing autonomous technology.
• The company's foray into drone delivery and sidewalk bots may seem outside its core business model, but it is part of a broader effort to build a more efficient and effective delivery network.