Overview
- Early access deliveries are underway in Tempe and Mesa, with DoorDash targeting broader Phoenix coverage by year’s end and signaling expansion to additional U.S. markets.
- Dot is a compact, electric four‑wheeler built by DoorDash Labs to operate on roads, bike lanes and sidewalks at up to 20 mph while carrying roughly 30 pounds or six pizza boxes.
- An Autonomous Delivery Platform uses AI to route each order to a Dot, a human Dasher or a drone, and a new SmartScale tool tested by merchants reduced missing‑item complaints by up to 30%.
- DoorDash says Dots are not remotely driven and will pull over and wait when they encounter problems, with local field operators dispatched for assistance.
- Public reaction ranges from Mesa’s mayor praising the pilot to worker and online skepticism that includes safety concerns and vandalism threats, as DoorDash also rolls out a “Going Out” reservations tab starting in New York and Miami.