The autonomous last-mile delivery market was valued at USD 0.7 billion in 2023-e, growing at a CAGR of 25.8% from 2024 to 2030. The growing e-commerce industry and rising consumer demand for fast e-commerce delivery are driving the market growth. Technological advancements in autonomous drones and vehicles are anticipated to provide significant growth opportunities for the autonomous last-mile delivery market.

Autonomous Last Mile Delivery Market Overview

Autonomous last-mile delivery denotes the final leg of the delivery process, during which a package travels from a transportation hub to its ultimate destination without any human involvement. Last-mile delivery services, although crucial, can be both expensive and intricate within retail logistics. They significantly influence the customer journey and overall consumer satisfaction. Key companies actively invest and partner to establish autonomous last-mile delivery technologies. Thus, there are significant growth opportunities in the autonomous last-mile delivery market.

Growing E-Commerce Industry is Driving the Market Growth

The growing adoption of 5G and smartphones has revolutionized the way consumers shop and e-commerce has emerged as a strong industry in the B2C as well as B2B landscape. An increasing number of businesses ranging from small businesses to multinational corporations, are utilizing e-commerce platforms to reach consumers worldwide. According to the US International Trade Administration, global B2C e-commerce revenue is expected to grow to USD 5.5 trillion by 2027 at a steady 14.4% CAGR. The leading sectors within the B2C e-commerce are consumer electronics, fashion, furniture, toys/hobby, health & pharmaceuticals, media & entertainment, beverages, and food. Thus, the growing e-commerce industry is driving the autonomous last-mile delivery market growth.

Segment Analysis

As Technology Continues to Evolve, There’s an Increasing Demand for Aerial Delivery Drones

Drone delivery services are revolutionizing the way goods are transported. As drone technology continues to evolve and regulations become more accommodating, aerial delivery drones are making deliveries more efficient, cost-effective, and environment-friendly. Several researches have shown that the last mile of package deliveries using drones uses less energy and creates fewer emissions than conventional means.

The logistics and transportation industry is among the industries that are actively adopting drones to enhance their last-mile delivery operations further. For instance, in October 2023, Amazon announced that it is anticipating to start drone delivery operations in Italy, the UK, and a 3rd location in the US by late 2024. Thus, aerial delivery drones are anticipated to grow at a significant rate.

Source: Intent Market Research Analysis

Software Segment is Anticipated to be the Fastest Growing Segment Offering Improved Inspection & Monitoring in Autonomous Last Mile Delivery

There has been exponential growth in the commercial drone market in recent years owing to the rise in popularity and increasing applications. The ever-evolving automation is leading to a rise in adoption of the drones for commercial and industrial use. The software is used for inspection and monitoring of the drones. The drone companies are investing substantially in automation software recognizing the market's huge potential. For instance, in October 2023, Skyports Drone Services and RigiTech launched the Drone Delivery App in South Korea. Thus, the rising adoption of advanced analytics and growing investment in drone analytics solutions is driving the software segment.

Growing Acceptance Among the Public is Driving the Demand for Short Range (<20 km) automotive delivery vehicles

Most products and services in the autonomous last-mile delivery market are currently targeted towards short-range typically constrained to small city sectors, university campuses, and hospitals. A majority of autonomous delivery services are still in the testing phase and thereby constrained to short range. However, growing acceptance among the public and improving the technology of autonomous vehicles drive the demand for short-range autonomous last-mile delivery services.

Adoption of Food Delivery Bots is Driving the Demand from Food & Beverage Sector

The food delivery ecosystem has evolved tremendously with the introduction of user-friendly apps and tech-enabled driver networks. The use of autonomous food delivery bots is the next revolution happening in the food delivery ecosystem. The use of autonomous last-mile delivery vehicles in food & beverage is driven by increased efficiency, reduced cost, and 24/7 availability. There’s an increasing trend of adoption of food delivery bots in college campuses owing to the high acceptance of autonomous technologies among college students.

For instance, in February 2023, Grubhub and Starship Technologies introduced robot delivery via Starship’s fleet on the University of Notre Dame campus. In May 2023, Serve Robotics in partnership with Uber Eats announced the deployment of up to 2,000 more autonomous delivery robots and expansion to other cities across North America. Thus, the increasing trend of adoption of food delivery bots is driving the market growth.

Regional Analysis

North America Holds Largest Share in the Autonomous Last Mile Delivery Market

North America is among the early adopters of autonomous last-mile delivery services. The presence of key drone manufacturers as well as ground delivery vehicles is one of the core factors driving the market growth. The presence of key players such as Aethon, Amazon, Nuro, UPS Flight Forward, Wing Aviation, and Zipline, among others, in the region is driving the North America last-mile delivery market growth.

Moreover, increasing investments in the R&D, innovation, new product development as well as in mergers & acquisitions is driving the market growth. For instance, in March 2022, NVIDIA came into partnership with Serve Robotics, a sidewalk robot delivery company, and invested USD 10 million. Thus, the presence of key players in the region and increasing investments are driving market growth in the region.

Competitive Analysis

The Autonomous Last Mile Delivery Market is Highly Competitive with the Presence of Several Large, Medium & Small Players

Companies operating within the autonomous last-mile delivery market are primarily drone manufacturers and autonomous vehicle manufacturers, infrastructure developers, service providers, and software developers. The companies are expanding their product portfolios with the growing demand for delivery bots and drones. The autonomous last-mile delivery market is highly competitive with few big global players competing with an increasing number of startups entering the market. The key companies in the market are Aethon, Alibaba, Amazon, KiwiBot, Matternet, Nuro, Pablo Air, Starship Technologies, Swoop Aero, Wing Aviation, Yiqing Innovation (Unity Drive Innovation), and Zipline, among others.

Following are some key developments in the autonomous last-mile delivery market:

• In September 2023, Matternet received the US FAA Type Certification Amendment for its M2 drone delivery system.
• In January 2023, Starship Technologies and Grubhub launched food delivery robots at East Carolina University.

Autonomous Last Mile Delivery Market Coverage

The report provides key insights into the autonomous last-mile delivery market, and it focuses on technological developments, trends, and initiatives taken by the government in this sector. The report delves into market drivers, restraints, and opportunities, and analyzes key players and the competitive landscape within the market.

Report Scope