Domino’s Pizza and Ford Motor Company are to collaborate in understanding the role that self-driving vehicles can play in pizza delivery.
Over the coming weeks, randomly-selected Domino’s customers in Ann Arbor will have the opportunity to receive their delivery order from a Ford Fusion hybrid autonomous research vehicle, which will be manually-driven by a Ford safety engineer and staffed with researchers.
Customers who agree to participate will be able to track the delivery vehicle through GPS using an upgraded version of Domino’s Tracker. They will also receive text messages as the self-driving vehicle approaches that will guide them on how to retrieve their pizza using a unique code to unlock the Domino’s Heatwave Compartment inside the vehicle.
“As delivery experts, we’ve been watching the development of self-driving vehicles with great interest as we believe transport is undergoing fundamental, dramatic change,” said Domino’s president Patrick Doyle.
Ford plans to start production of self-driving vehicles in 2021. “As we increase our understanding of the business opportunity for self-driving vehicles to support the movement of people and goods, we’re pleased to have Domino’s join us in this important part of the development process,” said Sherif Marakby, Ford vice president, Autonomous and Electric Vehicles.
