Kroger and Nuro launch autonomous grocery delivery service in Houston, Texas.
Beginning this spring, Kroger customers who live in four Houston zip codes can have their grocery orders delivered to them via autonomous Nuro delivery cars. The service will be available through two Houston Kroger stores.
Nuro and Kroger have operated a similar delivery service in Scottsdale, Arizona since August, according to a news release. A Nuro autonomous delivery fleet serviced one zip code in that area. Late last year, the companies expanded the partnership to include Nuro’s custom vehicle, R1. Thousands of deliveries have been completed to customers in Scottsdale through this pilot program. Transferring the program to Houston is the next phase.
“Our Arizona pilot program confirmed the flexibility and benefits provided by autonomous vehicles and how much customers are open to more innovative solutions,” said Yael Cosset, Kroger’s chief digital officer, according to the release. “It’s always been our shared vision to scale this initiative to new markets, using world-changing technology to enable a new type of delivery service for our customers. We operate 102 stores in Houston—an energetic market that embraces digital and technology advancement. The launch is one more way we are committed to sustainably providing our customers with anything, anytime, and anywhere, the way they want it.”
Kroger and Nuro will begin the Houston service with Nuro’s self-driving Toyota Prius fleet, with plans to introduce the next generation of driverless vehicles later this year.
