DoorDash has reportedly developed delivery drones and secured FAA approval to operate them commercially, according to Bloomberg. If confirmed, the move would place the food delivery giant squarely in a race that already includes Amazon, Walmart, Wing (Alphabet’s drone subsidiary), and a handful of well-funded startups.
The reported development puts DoorDash in an interesting position. The company has built its business on a vast network of human gig workers, the familiar DoorDashers who navigate traffic, apartment complexes, and the occasional confusing gate code to get your food to you.
There’s no publicly available information about the specific drone models DoorDash may be developing, their flight range, payload capacity, or the markets where they might initially deploy. The FAA approval piece is arguably the most consequential part of the story. Companies need what’s called a Part 135 certificate for commercial drone delivery, and the approval process involves extensive safety documentation, operational plans, and flight testing.
The competitive landscape for drone delivery
Amazon’s Prime Air has been working on drone delivery since 2013. Wing, spun out of Alphabet’s X lab, has been conducting commercial deliveries in parts of the US, Australia, and Finland. Walmart has partnered with multiple drone operators to expand its own delivery capabilities. Zipline, originally known for delivering medical supplies in Rwanda, has expanded into commercial delivery in the US.
