United States-based food delivery company DoorDash has partnered with electric micromobility specialist Also on autonomous last-mile delivery through a strategic investment and multi-year collaboration.

The partnership will see the two companies work to deploy small, purpose-built electric vehicles designed to optimize how goods move in population-dense environments, according to reporting in Parcel and Postal Technology International.

The collaboration is focused on unlocking one of the most challenging parts of last-mile delivery: the intersection of roads and road-adjacent spaces such as bike lanes, shoulders and kerb sides.

These are areas where traditional vehicles can face difficulty, and Also's smaller, adaptable vehicles are designed to navigate them. Co-founder and President Chris Yu stated: "Small autonomous EVs are optimal in these environments. That is what Also is building from the ground up."

Also and DoorDash will work together to accelerate the development and deployment of autonomous delivery systems designed to operate effectively in dynamic environments where infrastructure overlaps. Co-founder and Head of DoorDash Labs Stanley Tang stated: "Also is building purpose-built EVs that are designed to unlock new ways to meet customers and merchants where they are. We're excited to invest and partner with them as we look to scale autonomous delivery."

The collaboration comes alongside Also's $200 million (€168 million) Series C financing round, led by Greenoaks, with participation from Prysm Capital and strategic investment from DoorDash. As part of the partnership, Stanley Tang will join Also as a board observer.

Read the complete report of the DoorDash and Also autonomous last-mile delivery electric vehicle partnership.