Walmart announced a multi-year partnership expansion with drone operator Zipline to add 300 new drone delivery sites across the U.S., bringing the retailer's total planned drone locations to at least 570—a nearly ninefold increase from its current operations. Zipline has operated 21 of Walmart's drone locations since the program launched in 2021. The expansion complements Walmart's existing partnership with Wing, which will cover over 270 Walmart locations by 2027.
Customers within delivery range can select drone delivery via the Walmart app or website, with packages delivered to their front yard, backyard, or driveway in as little as 30 minutes or less. Walmart has already achieved 1 million drone deliveries, with that number doubling since reaching the milestone in Q1. CEO John Furner emphasized that fast delivery drives customer frequency, deeper engagement, and Walmart+ membership adoption. With 90% of Americans living within 10 miles of a Walmart store, the retailer's existing brick-and-mortar footprint provides a foundation for a localized national drone network.
The expansion positions Walmart competitively against Amazon, which plans drone delivery in nearly 500 cities by the end of the year. Zipline simultaneously raised $1.5 billion in new funding to expand U.S. manufacturing and hiring capacity, signaling accelerated industry growth in autonomous delivery infrastructure.