First things first, let’s read that headline right: Rivian and Also are two companies. Can you believe that? Wit at its finest. DoorDash has inked a fresh deal with Also, a spinoff of Rivian, for driverless cars, and remember the DoorDash co-founder Stanley Tang? Well, he’s sitting as a member of Also’s board. Ridesharing Forum has more.
DoorDash enters into its newest partnership together with Also
Also is a popularly used word in the English language, but it’s also the name of the developer of small electric vehicles for last-mile and autonomous deliveries.
“We’re ALSO, an electric mobility company originally conceived as a part of Rivian. We’re a passionate team of builders, dreamers, doers, and innovators, focused on creating entirely new (not to mention, innovative and delightful) vertically integrated, small EVs designed to meet the global mobility challenges of today and tomorrow,” the company stated on its LinkedIn profile. “Said another way, ALSO is a new set of solutions to a common set of challenges around transportation. Our mission is to inspire everyone to ride also – replacing many local car, truck, and SUV miles with ones on vehicles that are more affordable, more enjoyable, and 10 to 50 times more efficient.”
Also has entered into a brand-new strategic partnership and multi-year commercial dealing with DoorDash, not to mention a whopping $200 million – that’s correct, $200 million – Series C financing round. This was participated by DoorDash’s investors and bidders.
Under this partnership, purpose-built small EVs designed for high-density urban environments will be deployed, with focus on road-adjacent spaces like bike lanes, shoulders, and curbsides. With this partnership, the challenges that last-mile delivery networks encounter will be addressed.
Tang will be part of the board!
The partnership also stipulates that DoorDash co-founder Tang will take part as a board member of Also, though he’d start as an observer.
Also is planning to scale production and expand globally, with cars intended to serve both passenger and products movement in driven and autonomous configurations. And, Tang’s participation will play a significant role.
“Also is building purpose-built EVs that are designed to unlock new ways to meet customers and merchants where they are,” Tang chatted with Ridesharing Forum.
Tang became part of a previous report here on this website, wherein he reiterated DoorDash’s position as among the top companies in innovation today.
“Small autonomous EVs are optimal in these environments. That is what Also is building from the ground up,” the co-founder and president of Also, Chris Yu, stated.
These people are amazing. For more delivery news, keep it locked right here on Ridesharing Forum!