FedEx to test autonomous delivery vehicle

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FedEx Corp. and Nuro, an autonomous delivery vehicles designer, recently signed a multi-year, multi-phase agreement to test an autonomous delivery vehicle within FedEx’s operations.

The pilot program launched in April in the Houston area. The program allows FedEx to explore uses for on-road autonomous vehicle logistics, such as appointment-based and multi-stop deliveries while allowing Nuro to expand into parcel logistics.

“Working with FedEx — the global leader in logistics — is an incredible opportunity to rethink every aspect of local delivery,” Cosimo Leipold, Nuro’s head of partnerships, said. “This multi-year commitment will allow us to truly collaborate and bring Nuro’s powerful technology to more people in new ways, and eventually reach large-scale deployment. Our collaboration will enable innovative, industry-first product offerings that will better everyday life and help make communities safer and greener.”

For nearly five years, Nuro has been developing and testing self-driving technology. It has entered into partnerships with restaurant, grocery, and pharmacy companies.

The pilot program is just the latest in FedEx’s portfolio of autonomous same-day and specialty delivery devices. The demand for reliable, autonomous solutions throughout all supply chain stages has increased because of a spike in e-commerce activity.

FedEx employs more than 570,000 people worldwide.