SAN ANTONIO -- H-E-B will launch a pilot program to test delivery service from a vehicle with self-driving technology later this year, it was announced Wednesday.
- Will serve customers near Olmos Park HEB
- Vehicle has climate-controlled compartments
- Customers can sign up to receive deliveries during test phase
The retailer will use one autonomous van with driverless technology, which will serve customers near its Olmos Park H-E-B, just north of downtown San Antonio.
For the San Antonio-based H-E-B, the adoption of innovative technologies has helped increase convenience, reduce costs, streamline operational efficiencies, and create jobs.
“Our success starts with our people, who provide exceptional hospitality and drive us to open more engaging stores that offer a world-class shopping experience,” said Craig Boyan, H-E-B President. “We’re committed to winning through people and hiring more people, and we’re adding necessary skills to become both a better tech company and even stronger brick-and-mortar retailer.”
To test the self-driving technology, H-E-B will source one Autonomous Delivery Vehicle from Udelv, a California-based company that creates ADVs.
The ADV has climate-controlled compartments that can hold multiple orders of fresh, frozen and dry goods, and can travel at city street and highway speeds.
“As the most loved retailer in Texas, H-E-B is an amazing partner for Udelv as we scale our AutodelivTM service and work to make deliveries faster and safer. We look forward to serving the people of Texas with Newton, our second-generation ADV,” said Daniel Laury, CEO of Udelv.
During the first phase of the pilot, the ADV will have a driver. If the initiative is expanded, H-E-B will implement a multi-phased roll out to give the technology time to learn the safest, most efficient routes, which will eventually lead to the ADV becoming fully driverless.
For the pilot, which will initially involve one ADV, select customers can sign up to receive deliveries from the vehicle during the test period.