Self-driving car startup Nuro partners with Kroger for same-day grocery delivery

Nuro, a two-year-old startup started by two veterans of Google’s self-driving car team, is partnering with Kroger, the nation’s largest supermarket chain, to bring groceries to customers’ doors without a driver. The two companies made the announcement today. The  new partnership will redefine the grocery customer experience for Americans by piloting an on-road, fully autonomous delivery experience. This is the first application and deployment of Nuro’s hardware and software. The pilot market will be announced soon and is expected to begin this fall.

“Working with Kroger and its expansive footprint enables us to bring the benefits of autonomous technology to neighborhoods near you. With 2800 stores across 35 states, Kroger is a ubiquitous, beloved, household name for millions of families. It is also the largest supermarket chain in the world,” Nuro said in a blog post on Medium.

Founded in 2016 by Dave Ferguson and Jiajun Zhu, Nuro is a technology startup that aims to accelerate the benefits of robotics for everyday life. Nuro’s team is made up of the very best minds from academia and industry. Nuro combines software and hardware expertise to design and build products that accelerate the benefits of robotics for everyday life. Nuro’s first product is a self-driving vehicle designed for local goods transportation. The company is led by world-renowned experts in robotics, artificial intelligence and computer vision. Privately held, Nuro powers partnerships with local businesses seeking new ways to cost effectively transport goods and create new experiences for their customers.

Nuro Team

Together, America’s largest supermarket retailer Kroger and Nuro, maker of the world’s first fully unmanned road vehicle, are working to make the convenience of grocery delivery accessible and affordable for customers everywhere. Through this innovative partnership, customers can place same-day delivery orders through Kroger’s ClickList ordering system and Nuro’s app. During the test, orders will be delivered by Nuro’s fleet of autonomous vehicles.

Kroger’s expansive retail footprint of 2,800 stores in 35 states combined with Nuro’s technology platform will change the status quo of grocery delivery through convenience at a low price. This allows customers to get what they need, when they need it, wherever they are.

“We are incredibly excited about the potential of our innovative partnership with Nuro to bring the future of grocery delivery to customers today,” says Yael Cosset, Kroger’s chief digital officer. “As part of Restock Kroger, we have already started to redefine the grocery customer experience and expand the coverage area for our anything, anytime and anywhere offering. Partnering with Nuro, a leading technology company, will create customer value by providing Americans access to fast and convenient delivery at a fair price.”

“Unmanned delivery will be a game-changer for local commerce, and together with Kroger, we’re thrilled to test this new delivery experience to bring grocery customers new levels of convenience and value,” said Dave Ferguson, Co-Founder, Nuro. “Our safe, reliable, and affordable service, combined with Kroger’s ubiquitous brand, is a powerful first step in our mission to accelerate the benefits of robotics for everyday life.”