The race toward autonomous delivery has entered a new phase. DoorDash, one of America’s largest delivery platforms, has teamed up with Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving unit, to roll out fully driverless food and grocery deliveries in Phoenix, Arizona. Announced on October 16, the pilot uses Waymo’s electric Jaguar I-Pace fleet to carry orders from DashMartwarehouses to customers. Once the car arrives, users simply unlock the trunk through the DoorDash app and collect their order no driver, no tip required.
Initially limited to convenience goods, the service will expand to local restaurants later this year. The collaboration merges Waymo Driver, already active in Phoenix since 2016, with DoorDash’s Autonomous Delivery Platform, which coordinates robotaxis, human couriers, and sidewalk bots. Executives described it as a milestone toward a “multi-modal autonomous future.” Nicole Gavel, from Waymo, highlighted reliability and safety, while David Richter, from DoorDash, pointed to environmental benefits from the all-electric fleet.
To encourage adoption, DashPass members get $10 off Waymo rides through December 2025. Arizona’s permissive policies have made Phoenix a hub for mobility innovation, and investors responded fast DoorDash stock jumped 5%after the announcement. The move signals a broader shift in logistics: optimizing vehicle fleets during off-peak hours, cutting emissions, and reshaping how goods move across suburbs.
For gig drivers, the message is clear: automation is coming. Understanding how to work alongside these systems will be key to staying profitable. Platforms like Nexo Go, offering automation from ShopperX for Instacart and Veho, can be smart allies for capturing orders automatically and ensuring income stability.
The delivery world is becoming hybrid part human, part autonomous, fully connected. Those who embrace automation as an ally will be the ones leading the next chapter of the gig economy.
Sources:
Bloomberg, Driverless Waymos Set to Deliver DoorDash Orders in Phoenix (16 Oct 2025).
DoorDash Press Release, DoorDash and Waymo Partner to Launch Autonomous Deliveries.
The Verge, DoorDash and Waymo Team Up for Driverless Food Delivery in Phoenix.
Business Insider, Waymo and DoorDash Launch Autonomous Delivery Pilot in Arizona.
