Rivian Spinoff 'Also' Secures $200M to Build Software-Defined Delivery Fleets
Rivian spinoff 'Also' has secured $200 million in funding to develop autonomous delivery vehicles specifically for DoorDash, heightening the race for software-defined commercial fleets.
The commercial delivery landscape is being rewritten by 'Also,' a Rivian spinoff that recently closed a $200 million funding round led by Greenoaks Capital and DoorDash. This brings the startup’s total funding to over $500 million, signaling a massive bet on software-defined vehicles (SDVs) tailored for the "last mile." Unlike general-purpose EVs, these vehicles are being designed from the ground up to integrate deeply with DoorDash’s logistics stack, allowing for seamless autonomous drop-offs and real-time fleet optimization.
The move represents a strategic pivot for DoorDash, moving away from third-party hardware to a bespoke SDV ecosystem. By controlling the software architecture of the delivery fleet, Also can implement rapid over-the-air updates to navigation algorithms, sensor calibration, and battery management. This vertical integration is the hallmark of the SDV era, where the vehicle's value is defined by its ability to evolve through software rather than its mechanical assembly alone.
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Source: TechCrunch
