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The delivery services landscape in the US is changing, driven by advancements in autonomous technology. Self-driving delivery companies are disrupting last-mile and middle-mile logistics, reducing costs, enhancing efficiency, and minimizing environmental impact through electric and AI-powered vehicles.
These companies focus on everything from sidewalk robots for urban food deliveries to autonomous trucks for B2B supply chains and drones for aerial logistics.
As of September 2025, the sector is experiencing rapid growth, with several key players dominating based on metrics like autonomous deliveries completed and miles covered. Notably, all top companies operate at SAE Level 4 autonomy, enabling driverless operations in specific operational design domains (ODDs) such as sidewalks, fixed routes, or airspace, with fallback options for human intervention if needed.
Industry Overview and Growth Trends
Autonomous delivery robots, particularly those operating on sidewalks, represent a growing subset of the broader robotics and logistics market. These small, wheeled robots are designed for short-range deliveries in pedestrian-heavy areas, such as campuses, neighborhoods, and city centers. The technology leverages AI for navigation, obstacle avoidance, and interaction with human environments, making it ideal for contactless deliveries post-pandemic.
Key Market Statistics
The global autonomous delivery robots market is positioned for exponential expansion, reflecting strong adoption in the U.S. According to Precedence Research, the global delivery robots market size is projected to be worth around USD 6,578.20 million by 2034 from USD 409.30 million in 2024, at a CAGR of 32.01% from 2025 to 2034. As for North America, the delivery robots market size reached USD 130.22 million in 2023.
Sidewalk-specific robots have seen particularly strong uptake in the U.S., where urban density and e-commerce demand drive innovation. Industry experts note that over 50% of last-mile deliveries in select cities could be automated by 2030, potentially reducing delivery costs by 40-50%.
Adoption rates are accelerating, with more than 100,000 autonomous deliveries occurring monthly in pilot programs across states like California, Texas, and Florida. Environmental benefits are also significant: these robots contribute to a reduction in carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional vans, aligning with sustainability goals.
Although challenges persist, including regulatory hurdles and public acceptance, investments in the sector topped USD 2 billion in 2024, fueling further R&D.
The U.S. leads in deployments, with companies like those profiled below accounting for a substantial share of operational fleets.
Comparative Analysis of Top Companies
To provide a clear overview, the following table summarizes the top eight self-driving delivery companies in the U.S., ranked by autonomous deliveries made and miles covered. Data is based on publicly available metrics as of mid-2025. All featured companies operate at SAE Level 4 autonomy, allowing for driverless functionality in defined environments with remote oversight capabilities.
| Rank | Company | Focus Area | Autonomous Deliveries Made | Autonomous Miles Covered | Level of Autonomy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Starship Technologies | Sidewalk robots for last-mile | 8 million+ | 10 million+ | SAE Level 4 |
| 2 | Zipline | Autonomous drone delivery | Over 1.5 million | 100 million+ | SAE Level 4 |
| 3 | Gatik | Middle-mile autonomous trucking | 600,000+ | Hundreds of thousands (est.) | SAE Level 4 |
| 4 | Nuro | Purpose-built electric vehicles | Hundreds of thousands (est.) | Over 2 million | SAE Level 4 |
| 5 | Kiwibot | Sidewalk robots for urban/campus | Over 250,000 | Not specified | SAE Level 4 |
| 6 | Serve Robotics | Sidewalk robots for food/packages | Tens of thousands | Not specified | SAE Level 4 |
| 7 | Udelv | Cab-less electric vans | Over 20,000 | Not specified | SAE Level 4 |
| 8 | Clevon | Autonomous robot couriers | Not publicly specified (estimated in thousands) | Over 44,000 | SAE Level 4 |
Profiles of Leading Companies
1. Starship Technologies
Starship Technologies stands out as the frontrunner in sidewalk autonomy, specializing in autonomous sidewalk delivery robots for food, groceries, and packages. Founded in 2014 by Skype co-founders, the company has expanded operations across U.S. campuses and urban areas, partnering with platforms like Uber Eats. Their robots navigate pedestrian paths with advanced AI, ensuring safe, low-emission deliveries.
Autonomy Level
Starship operates at SAE Level 4 autonomy, enabling robots to perform deliveries with minimal human intervention in designated areas, supported by remote oversight for edge cases.
Number of Autonomous Deliveries Made: 8 million
Number of Autonomous Miles Covered: 10 million
Starship’s success mirrors the broader sidewalk robot boom, where U.S. deployments have grown 300% since 2022, contributing to the market’s projected USD 1.11 billion valuation in 2025.
2. Zipline
Zipline specializes in autonomous drone deliveries, focusing on medical supplies, groceries, and e-commerce items with long-range fixed-wing drones. Founded in 2014, the company began U.S. operations in 2020 and has FAA approvals for nationwide service, partnering with healthcare providers and retailers for rapid, on-demand logistics.
Autonomy Level
Zipline’s drones achieve SAE Level 4 autonomy, allowing fully autonomous flights under normal conditions with onboard perception and navigation systems.
Number of Autonomous Deliveries Made: Over 1.5 million
Number of Autonomous Miles Covered: 100 million+
Zipline’s aerial approach complements ground-based systems, contributing to the drone delivery market’s growth, expected to reach USD 5.6 billion by 2030 with a focus on sustainability and speed.
3. Gatik
Gatik targets B2B logistics with Class 3-7 autonomous box trucks, focusing on predictable routes between warehouses and retail outlets. Established in 2017, it serves major clients like Walmart and Kroger, emphasizing safety through structured environments.
Autonomy Level
Gatik’s trucks achieve SAE Level 4 autonomy, allowing driverless operations on fixed middle-mile routes with safety redundancies and remote monitoring.
Number of Autonomous Deliveries Made: 600,000
Number of Autonomous Miles Covered: Not publicly specified (estimated in hundreds of thousands)
While not sidewalk-specific, Gatik’s operations complement the industry, where autonomous trucking is expected to capture over 20% of middle-mile deliveries by 2030, per market forecasts.
4. Nuro
Nuro, founded in 2016 by ex-Waymo engineers, designs electric autonomous vehicles tailored for deliveries, collaborating with Kroger and Domino’s. The company has pivoted toward technology licensing, expanding its impact.
Autonomy Level
Nuro’s system supports SAE Level 4 autonomy, enabling driverless deployments in urban and highway environments with advanced AI and redundant safety features.
Number of Autonomous Deliveries Made: Not publicly specified (estimated in hundreds of thousands)
Number of Autonomous Miles Covered: Over 2 million
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5. Kiwi Campus
Originating from UC Berkeley in 2017, Kiwi Campus deploys compact AI robots for campus and city deliveries, partnering with Walmart and Grubhub. Their semi-autonomous models prioritize cost-effectiveness and zero emissions.
Kiwi Campus, often referred to as Kiwi, started as an on-demand food delivery service and has evolved into a robotics leader. In 2025, it rebranded elements and acquired AUTO Mobility Solutions to enhance privacy and innovation in robotics.
Autonomy Level
Kiwibot has achieved SAE Level 4 autonomy, allowing robots to handle navigation, obstacle avoidance, and route planning independently in most scenarios, with supervision for high-risk situations.
Number of Autonomous Deliveries Made: Over 250,000
Number of Autonomous Miles Covered: Not publicly specified
6. Serve Robotics
Spun off from Uber in 2021, Serve Robotics operates Level 4 autonomous sidewalk robots in cities like Los Angeles, specializing in food deliveries via Uber Eats. Key collaborations include Little Caesars for autonomous deliveries launched in August 2025 and expansions to Atlanta and Chicago. Serve focuses on scalable last-mile solutions with 773% revenue growth in 2024.
Autonomy Level
Serve Robotics deploys SAE Level 4 autonomy, featuring lidar-powered navigation and AI for safe, independent operation on urban sidewalks without routine human intervention.
Number of Autonomous Deliveries Made: Tens of thousands
Number of Autonomous Miles Covered: Not publicly specified
7. Udelv
Udelv, founded in 2016, uses cab-less electric vans with modular pods for groceries and parcels, including U.S. Air Force pilots. By 2025, it has completed thousands of deliveries and focuses on multi-stop routes. Udelv has partnered with Teague for vehicle design and conducted pilots for baked goods, auto parts, and more. It contributes to the growing autonomous last-mile market projected at USD 10.36 billion by 2034.
Autonomy Level
Udelv’s vehicles are designed for SAE Level 4 autonomy, performing all driving tasks in geo-fenced areas with tele-operations for fallback.
Number of Autonomous Deliveries Made: Over 20,000
Number of Autonomous Miles Covered: Not publicly specified
8. Clevon
Clevon develops autonomous electric robot couriers for last-mile deliveries, capable of multi-parcel transport in urban and suburban settings. Founded in Estonia with U.S. headquarters in Texas since 2022, the company partners with logistics firms like DHL for efficient, eco-friendly operations.
Autonomy Level
Clevon’s systems operate at SAE Level 4 autonomy, optimized for controlled environments with reliable driverless capabilities and teleoperation support.
Number of Autonomous Deliveries Made: Not publicly specified (estimated in thousands)
Number of Autonomous Miles Covered: Over 44,000
Clevon’s expanding fleet aligns with goals for 1,000 vehicles by 2025, supporting the broader push toward scalable autonomous logistics in the U.S.
Future Outlook
The self-driving delivery sector in the U.S. is set for continued innovation, with sidewalk robots leading in urban applications and drones expanding reach. However, regulatory approvals, cybersecurity, and integration with existing infrastructure remain hurdles. As market projections indicate growth to USD 55.7 billion by 2034, these top companies are well-positioned to shape the future of logistics.
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I’m Dr. Brandial Bright, also known as the AVangelist. As a dedicated and passionate researcher in autonomous and electric vehicles (AVs and EVs), my mission is to educate and raise awareness within the automotive industry. As the Founder and Managing Partner of Fifth Level Consulting, I promote the adoption and innovation of advanced vehicle technologies through speaking engagements, consulting, and research as we progress to level 5 fully autonomous vehicles.
