Robomart Launches $3 Flat-Fee Autonomous Delivery to Rival Food Apps
Robomart Unveils Affordable Autonomous Delivery Robot to Shake Up Food Delivery
Robomart, a Los Angeles-based startup specializing in self-driving delivery vehicles, has announced the launch of its latest model, the Robomart RM5. This new level-four autonomous robot aims to disrupt the food delivery landscape with an attractive $3 flat delivery fee, directly challenging established platforms like DoorDash and Uber Eats.
What Sets the Robomart RM5 Apart?
- Batch Deliveries: The RM5 can carry up to 500 pounds and features 10 individual lockers, allowing multiple orders to be delivered on a single trip.
- Retailer Integration: Retailers can set up virtual storefronts on the Robomart app, similar to leading food delivery apps, enabling direct access to customers.
- Transparent, Low Fees: Each order incurs only a $3 delivery fee, eliminating the layers of charges, markups, and tips often found on other platforms.
A New Approach to On-Demand Delivery
Robomart’s model is unique in its vision of creating an autonomous marketplace for on-demand delivery. By leveraging self-driving robots, the company plans to dramatically reduce delivery costs—potentially slashing them by up to 70% compared to human-driven services.
The rollout will begin in Austin, Texas, where Robomart will onboard local retailers in the coming months, ahead of a full service launch later this year.
From Store on Wheels to Autonomous Marketplace
Founded in 2017, Robomart initially piloted an autonomous “store on wheels” concept, delivering items like pharmacy goods and ice cream directly to consumers. The transition to an on-demand delivery service was a natural next step for co-founder and CEO Ali Ahmed, who previously ran a U.K.-based delivery platform. Ahmed’s experience highlighted the profitability challenges of traditional delivery models, especially when relying on human drivers.
"Our robots bring the cost of a delivery down by up to 70%," Ahmed explains. "If you are paying a driver $18 an hour, your cost, just for that driver, is $9 to $10 an hour."
Lean Funding, Big Ambitions
Despite fierce competition and minimal funding—under $5 million from investors like Hustle Fund, SOSV, and Wasabi Ventures—Robomart has developed five generations of robots and is now ready to deploy its autonomous delivery marketplace on public roads.
Ahmed is confident that Robomart’s straightforward pricing and automation will appeal to both retailers and customers, offering a compelling alternative to the complex fee structures of legacy food delivery apps.
What’s Next?
As Robomart prepares for its Austin debut, the company aims to prove that affordable, efficient, and autonomous delivery is not just a vision of the future, but a reality that can transform how businesses serve their customers.
