Toyota-backed Pony.ai to offer autonomous delivery service in California

BEIJING – Toyota-backed self driving company Pony.ai said Friday it would provide an autonomous delivery service to residents of Irvine, California, as demand for online orders has surged because of the COVID-19 lockdown. Some 90% of U.S. shoppers are under stay-at-home orders, and a jump in demand for package and grocery delivery has left e-commerce platforms struggling to cope. In response, Amazon has said it plans to hire 75,000 more people for jobs ranging from warehouse staff to delivery driver positions. Pony.ai said in a statement it would use autonomous electric vehicles to deliver packages from local e-commerce platform Yamibuy to customers in Irvine, California, which has a population of more than 200,000. The autonomous fleet comprises 10 electric Kona sport-utility vehicles made by Hyundai.