Walmart takes another step towards drone delivery with DroneUp investment
Walmart Inc. said Thursday that it has invested in drone delivery services company DroneUp. Walmart first partnered with DroneUp last year for trial deliveries of COVID-19 self-collection kits. With 4,700 stores located within 10 miles of 90% of the U.S. population, Walmart is preparing to scale drone delivery up to an everyday option. "This makes us uniquely positioned to execute drone deliveries, which is why our investment in DroneUp won't just apply to the skies but also the ground," said John Furner, chief executive of Walmart U.S., in a statement. "In the coming months we'll be beginning our first operation at a store in Bentonville, Ark." Walmart announced an investment in the autonomous vehicle company Cruise in April. Walmart stock has fallen 4.2% over the year to date while the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 10.7% for the period.
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