Walmart, Ford Partner To Test Grocery Delivery With Self-Driving Cars

[appalachiablue]

Last edited Wed Nov 14, 2018, 05:45 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: MarketWatch

By Tomi Gilmore, 8:42 ET.

Walmart Inc. WMT, -0.87%said Wednesday it was partnering with Ford Motor Co. F, +0.16%to test a grocery delivery service using self-driving vehicles. The pilot program is taking place in Miami-Dade County in Florida. Walmart said Postmates, which is already connected to Ford's digital platform, serves as its delivery partner in Miami.

"Walmart and Ford agree autonomous vehicles have an important role to play as we consider the future of delivery," said Tom Ward, senior vice president of digital operations at Walmart U.S.

Analyst Jeremy Acevedo at Edmunds said for Ford, "doubling down" on the commercial side of self-driving technology is a safer bet for Ford, but could be one that pays off well in the end. "Solving commercial challenges is far easier than solving commuter ones, and is most likely the area where self-driving technology will take off first," Acevedo wrote in a note.

Walmart's stock rose 0.7% in premarket trade while Ford shares gained 0.2%. Over the past three months, Walmart's stock has hiked up 14.8%, Ford shares have gained 0.9% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, -0.28%has edged up 0.4%. - END.

Read more: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/walmart-ford-partner-to-test-grocery-delivery-with-self-driving-cars-2018-11-14

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VIDEO, https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2018/11/14/walmart-ford-motor-delivery-project/1997500002/

WATCH.


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Amazon competitor drones.

Amazon Doesn't Just Want To Dominate The Market, It Wants To Become The Market, The Nation, Feb. 2018.
https://www.thenation.com/article/amazon-doesnt-just-want-to-dominate-the-market-it-wants-to-become-the-market/

[TeamPooka]

1. So nobody's going to carry my bags into the house?

[hlthe2b]

2. Gawd, we are such a lazy society....

So, when the order gets totally screwed up (as it undoubtedly will in some percentage of orders), then do you keep ordering deliveries, hoping they might finally get it right and your charges credited?

Or do you just give up and beg a ride off your neighbor and go shop yourself?

[unblock]

3. this is already a problem with grocery delivery services, even without self-driving cars.

when you go shopping, you can check expiration dates, pick the fruits and veggies that actually look good, etc.

but then, if you only order dry goods, you might as well order from amazon, usually cheaper.

the delivery services are usually pretty good about giving you a credit or redelivering, but it's a hassle.

[Sunlei]

11. walmart delivery has been excellent here in Houston for fresh groceries.

quality and freshness has been good, no mistakes so far. Online ordering should add 'couponing' They should make some coupon deals with some of the suppliers. And pay the drivers more.
For only $8(and tip) a person has work. I don't enjoy shopping.

[Glimmer of Hope]

9. Sometimes I depend on grocery delivery due to illness. I am grateful the service is available.

Not lazy.

[Submariner]

10. But what fun it will be to watch the news about the Fords that didn't make it back to Walmart

after the delivery.

[Sunlei]

12. no airbags!

I wanted to jump in one of those cars and get a free ride to Walmart

[PoliticAverse]

4. The typical "just before black friday" attempt by a company to get their name in the news. n/t

[Solly Mack]

5. Eggs and bread - all crushed.

[displacedtexan]

6. I actually gave Walmart delivery a try...

I get Amazon same day delivery frequently, so I figured Walmart could get a box of coffee pods (I had their store brand Donut Shop pods in Texas and liked them; plus, they were super cheap per pod). They promised 2 day delivery, so I thought all would be fine.

Six days later, Walmart had no idea where my order was, other than it had left the warehouse. I gave up and went to Safeway. 8 days later than the promised delivery day, the box arrived. It just made me so mad that I trusted a company I had shunned for over 20 years. Wingnuts are wingnuts the world around.

[LiberalFighter]

7. What is the point of delivery if they aren't delivered to the door?

[Ohiogal]

8. If they ever get the "bugs" worked out,

What a great service for those who are disabled/home bound/non drivers/can't afford a car

[BumRushDaShow]

14. Plus people in rural areas. nt

[katmondoo]

13. There is nothing Walmart carries that I would ever want

[YOHABLO]

15. This is so pathetic. Anything to void paying a real person to do a job. Does this help the disabled?