New Law Would Create Novel Benefits Program for Delivery Workers
Honda intros Fastport delivery vehicle, Avride & H-E-B launch in Austin, DashPass remixed
In the fast-moving delivery landscape, there’s one piece of terrain that’s especially unsettled: benefits and worker classification. Now a new law, just passed by the Wisconsin legislature, could create a novel portable benefits system that would no longer tie programs like health and unemployment insurance to a single employer. Other big news this week includes a smattering of new vehicles — some big, some small, some autonomous — as well as a new twist on DashPass.
Oh and P.S. — happy 20th birthday to an absolute delivery legend: Taco Bell’s Crunchwrap Supreme.
This week’s edition is brought to you by PIN Partners.
Today:
Honda & Lalamove Dream Up New Delivery Vehicles
H-E-B Starts Autonomous Deliveries in Austin
Chart Time | DashPass, But Different?
Wisconsin Leg OKs Portable Benefits
VEHICLES | Honda Introduces Fastport Delivery Quadricycle
Automotive giant Honda is thinking a bit smaller, with the introduction of Fastport, its new urban delivery vehicle. Born out of its Honda New Business Innovation Lab, in Torrance, CA, and debuting this week at Eurobike Frankfurt, the Fastport is an electric quadricycle that features swappable batteries and a software defined vehicle architecture. Available in two configurations, the larger model can carry 650 pounds, while the smaller tops out at 320. Top speed is 12 MPH, while the equad’s max range is 23 miles. Initial deliveries are scheduled for late this year, while mass production is set for 2026. Take a look at it cruising the bike lanes of Brooklyn, NY.
The Big Picture: While the Fastport website may still look a tad underdeveloped, our sources tell us that Honda’s been working on this project for quite a few years. Eagle eyed Curbivore attendees may have in fact noticed a few Fastport employees scoping out the LSV competition at the past couple of conferences. Honda is targeting both the U.S. and Europe, a strategy similar to Fernhay’s, even though the regulatory and built environments are much friendlier to quadricycles across the pond. Purpose-built delivery vehicles continue to attract new entrants, with a variety of form-factors: Lalamove — the Hong Kong-based logistics player with a strong presence across both LatAm and Asia — just debuted its DuoLa Bafang electric van as well.
PARTNER | PIN Heads to Berlin — July 30th
The Platform Integrity Network (PIN) is a global community for fraud and risk leaders at food delivery and ride-sharing platforms, including companies like iFood and Grubhub.
PIN members connect through member-only virtual roundtables, a WhatsApp group chat, and in-person events — sharing knowledge and benchmarking on challenges like refund and promo abuse, account sharing, courier fraud, and more.
If you're a fraud or risk leader at a delivery or mobility platform, learn more and apply to join the community, with its next invite-only, two-day workshop set in Berlin, this July:
AV | Avride Partners With H-E-B in Texas
Texan grocery giant H-E-B is getting into the autonomous delivery game, as it partners with Austin-based Avride to deploy sidewalk delivery bots across the Mueller district. H-E-B is offering robotic deliveries between 11 AM and 7 PM, with orders limited to 10 items max (the robots have a max carrying capacity of 55 pounds.) While San Antonio-based H-E-B is the nation’s 13th largest grocer, it operates its own first party delivery brand — Favor — making it particularly well suited to experiment with new delivery technologies.
The Big Picture: While Texas has emerged as one of the country’s main nodes for AVs — thanks to a pro-corporate regulatory environment — Austin in particular has become a real hotspot for autonomous vehicles. Avride and H-E-B have chosen to deploy in Mueller, a newly built neighborhood sited at the location of a former airport, meaning the streets have good sidewalks and the community boundaries are legible. Meanwhile Tesla, which just took its Cybercab service live, is initially sticking to the low density south side of the city. Austin also used to be the home of Refraction AI, which designed a three-wheeled delivery bot, before going belly up last year. Looking ahead, Texan legislators look to finally be interested in regulating AVs, with a new law allowing the DMV to permit and register commercial robotaxi fleets set to soon go into effect.
CHART TIME | Summer of DashPass Is Back With a Twist
DoorDash is bringing back Summer of DashPass — its premium membership savings event — for the sixth time, this June 26th – July 30th. While some participating vendors, like Home Depot, are new to the program, the bigger changes are on DoorDash’s side. DD has added Family Sharing, allowing DashPass members to gift special deals to non-paying users. On top of that, there are now limited-time higher-value promos, an added social media giveaway, and savings on Lyft rides.
POLICY | Wisconsin Could Be First State to Legalize Portable Benefits
Portable benefits took a big step forward in the badger state, as the Wisconsin legislature passed AB269, which would create a portable benefit system for gig workers, like those working for Uber, DoorDash, Instacart, Grubhub and Lyft. The bill was introduced by two Republican assemblypersons, and while it received a smattering of Democratic support, it was opposed by the AFL-CIO due to its lack of job protections and benefit mandates, and it’s unclear if Democratic Governor Tony Evers will sign it. The Wisconsin law — which has attracted DoorDash’s support — would let, but not mandate, that gig companies could contribute up to 4% of a workers’ pay into a tax-preferred account.
The Big Picture: Supporters have been trying to get similar bills passed in Wisconsin since 2021, but they’ve never before advanced it to the Governor’s desk. While other states — like Pennsylvania, Georgia and Maryland — have established pilot programs, this would be the first state to fully implement the concept. Traditionally, benefits like health and unemployment insurance have been tied to a workers’ employer; this would create a hybrid system that accounts for the fact that gig workers tend to work for multiple platforms at the same time, jumping on and off each as they see fit.
A Few Good Links
Costco expands one-hour delivery options via Instacart Fulfillment Advantage. Cartken launches ultra-low temp handling delivery / warehouse bot. Luckin Coffee eyes U.S. launch. DHL plans Middle East expansion. President Trump’s illegal war on Iran sends oil prices skyward. Warp raises $10M for automated cross-docking. SpotOn adds mobile-first ordering. Boots adds late-night delivery via Deliveroo. Amazon sees robotics as big cost saver, CEO Jassy warns AI will lead to job losses. Meituan holds steady at 70% of Chinese delivery market. Open brings AI-powered marketing to first party delivery. Grubhub’s Dave Tovar talks GR strategies. Olive Garden sees big gains from delivery. RIP to FedEx founder Fred Smith. Woowa Brothers waives commissions on small dollar orders. Delivery Hero adds Board Member. Bolt adds muscle car sound effects to scooters, expands in Chiang Mai. J&T Express becoming Southeast Asian logistics giant. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) pushes for $15 minimum wage. Alibaba merges Ele.me and Fliggy. Toyota & Daimler merge truck cos. Kodiak partners with Roush. DHL Express Canada suspends ops amid strike. Which grocers derive the most sales from SNAP? Mobile wallet use rises. Darden profit slips. iFood intros new perks and features for couriers. Lyft advocates for AVs.
Got a tip, feedback, or just want to say hi? Reply back to this email.
— Brought to you by the Curbivore Crew.