Avride's Sidewalk Delivery Bots Land in Japan | Techcrunch
Avride is launching commercial operations in Japan this week through a partnership with e-commerce giant Rakuten, expanding its autonomous vehicle technology development beyond South Korea and into Northeast Asia. The company has secured certification to operate in Japan after completing the lengthy process last year and now plans to deploy 10 robots initially before expansion. Avride's sidewalk bots are already operational in Seoul, South Korea, and in the United States through a partnership with Grubhub.
- This strategic move by Avride highlights the growing importance of urban logistics in Asia, particularly in Japan where dense cities and high population densities create ideal conditions for efficient delivery services.
- As Avride expands its operations globally, will it be able to balance the scale-up with the need for local regulation and acceptance of autonomous delivery robots?