Asda has become the first commercial partner of autonomous mobility start-up Wayve to trial self-driving delivery vans as part of its last-mile operation.
The trial will begin in early 2022, with the vans operating under the supervision of a Wayve Safety Driver throughout the 12-month trial.
The partnership will use Wayve’s technology solutions to help navigate complex urban delivery routes in London and help integrate autonomy into the online grocery space.
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“We want to explore how autonomous vehicle technology can enhance our operating model as well as the experience for our colleagues and customers,” Asda vice president of online grocery, Simon Gregg said.
“We are pleased to partner with Wayve on this trial. Over the course of the last year, demand for online groceries has grown significantly, and we continue to push new boundaries in terms of retail innovation and technologies that can help us develop the most sustainable last-mile solutions for our business.”
Wayve chief executive Alex Kendall added: We are excited to be working with Asda as our first commercial partner.
“They have a proven track record of delivering innovations in online grocery shopping that improve customer experiences. This makes them an ideal partner to support the development of autonomous vehicle technology.”
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