Los Angeles-based startup Robomart has introduced its latest autonomous delivery vehicle, the RM5, designed to reduce grocery delivery costs by as much as 70% by removing the human driver.
The electric vehicle features 10 individual lockers, each capable of being chilled or heated, allowing it to deliver multiple parcels to different customers in a single trip. Each locker can carry up to 50 pounds (22.6 kg), giving the vehicle a total payload capacity of 500 pounds (226 kg). Robomart said customers will pay a flat $3 fee per order, significantly lower than typical service charges from competitors.
By eliminating the driver, the company promises “no markups, no service fees, no tips,” with the only additional cost being the $3 delivery fee. Unlike small sidewalk delivery robots, the RM5 is designed to travel at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour on public roads, with a maximum range of 112 miles (180 km) per charge.
Measuring 146.6 inches (3,724 mm) long, 56 inches (1,424 mm) wide and 82.6 inches (2,100 mm) tall, the RM5 weighs about 2,205 pounds (1,000 kg). Deliveries will be accessed through a smartphone app, which unlocks the appropriate locker once the vehicle arrives at a customer’s location.
According to the company, its first rollout will take place in Austin, Texas, where it is finalizing partnerships with retailers ahead of a planned launch later this year. Robomart, founded in 2017, previously piloted a “store on wheels” concept in 2020, sending autonomous vehicles stocked with items such as pharmacy goods and ice cream directly to customers.
