DoorDash uses Service Robotics’ curbside robots for delivery in Los Angeles

DoorDash customers in Los Angeles may soon get their food through one of these devices Robot service“Curbside delivery robots. The two companies announced Thursday a multi-year partnership that will see them use autonomous robots to make deliveries across the U.S.

The engagement comes a week later DoorDash unveiled Dotan autonomous food delivery robot designed by the company and first deployed in the Phoenix area. Unlike Servi’s robots, which operate primarily on sidewalks, Dot can move food and small packages on roads, bike lanes and sidewalks at speeds of up to 20 mph.

Servi is the latest in a series of emerging technology partnerships for DoorDash, which has teamed up with companies like Sidewalk robot startup Coco and Drone startup suite. According to Ashu Reji, vice president of autonomy at DoorDash Labs, the company’s robotics and automation division, it’s all part of a broader plan to become a platform for multimodal deliveries.

DoorDash isn’t the first app company to use such methods. Uber has partnered with self-driving car companies across its transportation, delivery, and shipping businesses The service is one From those companies. Similar to how gig workers work, the “Serve” bots will work with both Uber and DoorDash simultaneously.

But DoorDash is doing something different here: It’s throwing its own hat in the ring.

Other companies have tried this strategy as well. Uber and Lyft They both tried and to fail To operate both the technology stack and platform for autonomous passenger transportation services. AV startup Nuro started with Similar vehicle to Dot Before you realize it Manufacturing is a capital sink.

The three companies took the scenic route only to realize that it was more than that Cost effective To focus on their technology and core offerings.

Rege believes DoorDash will be different. The company plans to manufacture Dot on a large scale, but Rege declined to provide specific details. DoorDash was the first Profitable year in 2024And she reported Earnings record In the first half of 2025, thanks to a 20% increase in delivery volumes compared to the previous year. He claims that the company needs More ways to make deliveries if it is to continue serving its growing customer base.

What’s more, Rege believes the Dot brings something to the table that other form factors don’t. “We felt there was a gap. On the one hand, you have curbside robots, and on the other hand, you have taxi robots, which are great for moving people, but they don’t address the problem of deliveries in the last 10 feet,” he said. “The burrito won’t arrive at your door by itself. And for the merchants, they don’t want to (…) go find this robot parked half a block away.”

While curbside robots may work well in dense urban environments, Reggie said Dot will fill the gap in “dense suburban deliveries” within a three- to five-mile range. Dot’s ability to cross roads and Sidewalks are “a really essential part,” he said.

Of course, anyone can easily do all of this, but DoorDash says it plans to reserve its human workforce for more complex restaurant, retail or grocery store trips.