Marco’s Pizza enthusiasts might soon be receiving deliveries from a robot.

The 1,100-unit pizza brand announced a new pilot program with Magna, a mobility technology company that plans to use autonomous, electric, on-road delivery vehicles that drive up to 20 miles per hour and can conduct last-mile deliveries.

According to a press release issued by Marco’s Pizza and Magna, the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding to “test a variety of last-mile delivery platform options, including autonomous and electric solutions, with Marco’s franchisees.”

Related: Surging Pizzeria Adds Location Equipped With Robots

“As one of the largest pizza brands, we invest in innovations that drive our franchisees’ businesses forward while meeting the needs of today’s modern customer,” said Rick Stanbridge, executive vice president and chief information officer for Marco’s Pizza. “Our strategic collaboration with Magna exemplifies this forward-thinking approach, and we plan to leverage their expertise to amplify our operations and elevate customer satisfaction.”

Over the next several months, Magna and Marco’s will continue sketching out what the last-mile delivery pilot programs will look like. The organizations hope that the project will provide valuable data and insights in regard to last-mile delivery usage rates, levels of customer comfort and acceptance, as well as the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the partnership.

“As we look at how people and goods will move in the future, we are continuously identifying new applications and technologies to match the needs of the expanded mobility landscape, the last-mile delivery market being one of them,” said Matteo Del Sorbo, executive vice president at Magna and global lead for Magna New Mobility.

Marco’s Pizza was founded in 1978 by Italian-born Pasquale “Pat” Giammarco. The company is headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, and reports to be one of the fastest-growing pizza brands in the U.S.

The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate over 1,100 stores in 34 states with locations in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. Most recently, Marco’s Pizza was ranked No. 51 on Entrepreneur Magazine‘s 2023 “Franchise 500” ranking. Other recent accolades include a high ranking on Newsweek‘s 2023 “America’s Best Customer Service” in pizza chains list and earning a spot on QSR‘s Top 50.

Technology