- DoorDash partners with Alphabet’s Wing to pilot drone deliveries in Christiansburg, Virginia.
- Eligible Wendy’s orders can be delivered within 30 minutes.
- The US pilot aims to expand to more cities, offering efficient and sustainable delivery options.
Offering a new Wendy experience
DoorDash is expanding its drone delivery pilot program to the United States through a partnership with Alphabet’s Wing. Select users in Christiansburg, Virginia, will now have the option to order eligible menu items from their local Wendy’s and have them delivered via drone within 30 minutes.
The company first launched its drone delivery pilot in Australia in 2022, where it now operates with more than 60 merchants.
Landing pad prerequisites
To be eligible for drone delivery, addresses must have a small clearing on the property, approximately two-meters in diameter, for the delivery to be set down.
DoorDash recommends a driveway free of obstacles, such as trees or protrusive objects, as the perfect landing spot.
Most Wendy’s items will qualify for drone delivery, but some may be restricted due to volume and weight limitations. If an order exceeds the capacity of a single drone, DoorDash will deploy up to three drones to complete the delivery.
Expanding horizons for new customers
The launch of the US pilot follows Alphabet’s small-scale delivery operations in Christiansburg since 2019.
DoorDash plans to bring the pilot to other cities in the US later this year, aiming to offer more efficient, sustainable, and convenient delivery options for consumers.
Wing, which has made more than 350,000 deliveries across three countries, also has partnerships with other companies in the US, including Walmart and Walgreens.
