Grubhub is rolling out its autonomous delivery robots to its public marketplace for the very first time in a new pilot program focused on Jersey City. Expanding its partnership with robotics company Avride, the service will be available to customers ordering from Wonder’s Jersey City location.
The initiative marks the first deployment of Grubhub’s autonomous delivery outside of a college campus setting, a significant step in the company’s commitment to advancing its delivery logistics.
During the pilot, customers ordering from Wonder’s multi-restaurant concept through the Grubhub app may be offered the option to select delivery via an Avride robot if their address is within a set delivery range of the restaurant. Wonder’s Jersey City storefront houses over 20 different restaurant concepts—including popular options like Alanza, Tejas Barbecue, and Streetbird by Marcus Samuelsson—making it an ideal testing ground for the efficient delivery technology in a dense urban environment.
“This pilot represents the next step in our mission to provide diners with fast, reliable, and delightful delivery experiences,” PJ Poykayil, SVP of Customer Delivery Operations at Wonder and Grubhub said. “By combining Grubhub’s marketplace, Wonder’s culinary innovation, and Avride’s advanced robotics, we’re delivering the future of convenience.”
The robots are Avride’s most advanced models, featuring AI-powered autonomous driving technology and a precision-engineered chassis designed to navigate busy city sidewalks, curbs, and varied weather conditions with accuracy and maneuverability.
The expansion builds on a successful foundation: Grubhub and Avride have already completed over 100,000 robot deliveries across U.S. college campuses, including at The Ohio State University. Following the Jersey City trial, Grubhub plans to implement its learnings and expand autonomous delivery to additional markets nationwide.
