Rivian spin-off Also to develop autonomous delivery vehicles for DoorDash
Rivian spin-off will also build autonomous delivery vehicles for DoorDash, marking a major step toward AI-powered last-mile logistics and delivery innovation.
Micromobility startup Also, which originated within Rivian and was spun out last year, is teaming up with DoorDash to develop autonomous delivery vehicles, the companies announced on Tuesday.
As part of the agreement, DoorDash participated in Also’s $200 million Series C funding round, which Greenoaks Capital led. In addition to its investment, DoorDash will also take a seat on Also’s board of directors.
With this latest funding, Also’s total capital raised reaches $305 million, giving the company a valuation of $1 billion. The startup launched with a $105 million investment from Eclipse, which also backs Mind Robotics — an external industrial AI venture that Rivian established toward the end of last year.
Also began as an internal experimental project within Rivian in 2022. The company originally set out to develop an electric bicycle and even collaborated with LoveFrom, the design studio founded by Jony Ive. Its first product is a premium, uniquely styled e-bike, but the company has also unveiled concepts for compact pedal-assisted delivery vehicles.
Amazon — a major investor and strategic partner of Rivian — placed an order for thousands of these delivery vehicles late last year. Also indicated that these vehicles can carry more than 400 pounds of cargo while remaining compact enough to operate within bike lanes.
The partnership with DoorDash represents the first clear signal that Also intends to develop autonomous versions of its compact electric delivery vehicles. Rivian founder RJ Scaringe and CEO Chris Yu previously stated that a wide range of vehicle form factors could be explored, as long as they remain practical.
Both Rivian and the micromobility company have emphasised that the micromobility company will benefit from Rivian’s existing technology, retail infrastructure, and manufacturing scale. However, it remains uncertain whether it will also integrate Rivian’s autonomous driving technology into its products.
Rivian is currently working on a combination of cameras, ultrasonic sensors, radar systems, and, eventually, lidar to enable autonomous capabilities in its vehicles. Toward the end of last year, the company also revealed that it has developed its own custom silicon and autonomy-focused computing system, designed to enhance its self-driving capabilities. Scaringe has suggested that Mind Robotics may utilise this chip, raising the possibility that others could adopt it as well.
Despite these developments, both Rivian and Also have declined to confirm whether autonomous technology will be shared between the two companies. It is also possible that DoorDash could take responsibility for this aspect of the project.
DoorDash itself has been actively investing in autonomy. The company has spent several years developing its own robotic delivery vehicle known as Dot. This vehicle is equipped with lidar, radar, and camera systems, allowing it to navigate autonomously across roads, bike lanes, and sidewalks. The brightly colored robot, featuring cartoon-like eyes, can reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour and is currently being deployed in the Metro Phoenix area for deliveries.
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