A robot could soon be delivering tasty takeaways to North East postcodes as part of Deliveroo’s first major UK rollout.
Stockton has been chosen as one of the first UK locations to take part in a new partnership between Coco Robotics and Deliveroo - bringing delivery robots to the region's streets.
The Teesside town will join areas including Canary Wharf, Leeds, Milton Keynes and Nottingham as part of the company's first UK rollout.
The fully electric robots are designed to carry out short-distance deliveries for businesses using Deliveroo, travelling at walking pace to carefully navigate streets and pavements.
Coco Robotics says the machines can operate safely in busy urban areas, helping businesses fulfil more orders and giving customers an extra delivery option.
The project will bring investment in UK depots and charging facilities and is expected to create skilled jobs in operations, maintenance and logistics.
(Image: Tees Valley Combined Authority)
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: "Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool have built a reputation for turning innovation into reality, and Coco Robotics choosing our region as one of its first UK launches is another major vote of confidence in everything we're building here.
"This project will bring more cutting-edge tech, new investment and good-quality opportunities for local people – further proof that Teesside is one of the best places in the country to grow and invest in industries of the future."
Backing from the Tees Valley Combined Authority and Stockton Borough Council helped secure the investment.
Councillor Paul Rowling, deputy leader of Stockton Borough Council, said: "This is fantastic news for our area and once again is demonstration of the Borough continuing to consistently attract exciting new investment across a range of sectors.
"To have this new futuristic technology arrive is another boost for our local economy and we are very much looking forward to working closely alongside Coco Robotics whilst the scheme is rolled out."
The rollout is Coco Robotics’ first step into the UK market as the company expands across Europe.
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The company has also teamed up with navigation firm BlindSquare to use robot data to identify pavement hazards and alert blind and partially sighted pedestrians to obstacles.
Zach Rash, chief executive and co-founder of Coco Robotics, said: "We're thrilled to be bringing Coco to the UK with Deliveroo as our launch partner.
"The interest here has been incredible, and we're committed to building something that creates lasting value for local merchants and the communities they serve."
The Deliveroo rollout is the latest technological milestone for the North East, with Amazon previously selecting Darlington as the UK's first location for its drone delivery service.