Big four grocer Asda has announced it will trial autonomous delivery vans as part of its last mile operation.

The supermarket retailer is partnering with UK-based autonomous mobility start-up Wayve to deliver the trial in London, which will begin early next year.

Asda will be the first company to commercially test the vans.

The autonomous vehicles will operate under the supervision of a Wayve Safety Driver throughout the 12-month trial.

“We want to explore how autonomous vehicle technology can enhance our operating model as well as the experience for our colleagues and customers,” said Simon Gregg, vice president online grocery, Asda. “We are pleased to partner with Wayve on this trial.”

The executive said that over the course of the past year, demand for online groceries has grown significantly for the supermarket.

“… and we continue to push new boundaries in terms of retail innovation and technologies that can help us develop the most sustainable last mile solutions for our business," he added.

Alex Kendall, chief executive of Wayve, said that last mile delivery represents an ideal first use case for the company’s ‘Wayve Driver.’

Kendall explained that the technology is able to navigate the complexities of urban driving and can adapt to new routes.

Share Story: