Robomart, the startup developing self-driving delivery robots, is preparing to launch its new service in Austin, Texas, later this year. The company will begin onboarding retailers in the city over the coming months as part of its plan to bring affordable, on-demand delivery powered by automation.
Founded in 2017, Robomart first gained attention in 2020 by piloting an autonomous “store on wheels” that allowed customers to request a mobile store stocked with essentials like pharmacy goods and ice cream. While that model proved the potential of autonomous retail, shifting into dedicated on-demand delivery was always part of the long-term vision, according to co-founder and CEO Ali Ahmed.
Ahmed, who previously built an on-demand delivery platform in the U.K., said that reliance on human drivers made it nearly impossible to achieve sustainable profitability. The move to robotics was driven by the need to cut delivery costs drastically. “Our robots reduce delivery expenses by as much as 70%,” he explained, pointing out that human drivers cost nearly $10 an hour in wages alone.
Robomart’s latest autonomous vehicle, the RM5, is capable of carrying up to 500 pounds and is designed with 10 individual lockers. This setup enables multiple deliveries in a single run, improving efficiency and lowering costs for both retailers and customers. Each order comes with a flat $3 delivery fee a simpler and often cheaper structure than the multiple charges consumers typically face with existing delivery platforms.
Despite raising under $5 million in funding, Robomart has already built five generations of robots. Ahmed called this a milestone achievement and credited the team’s efficiency in creating what he describes as the first autonomous marketplace for on-demand delivery.
Though the industry is already crowded with big players, Ahmed believes Robomart offers something fundamentally different: an affordable, fully automated delivery ecosystem. “We’re building our own autonomous marketplace,” he said, confident that the combination of technology, cost savings, and customer appeal will set Robomart apart.
