Delivery robots hit San Jose

Coco Robotics and Uber Eats began operating autonomous food‑delivery robots on downtown San Jose sidewalks, the companies announced April 22, 2026. (prnewswire.com) Coco said it deployed about 20 sidewalk robots to handle short-distance food and grocery runs in the downtown launch zone. (nbcbayarea.com) The rollout runs through Uber Eats, so customers in the initial service area can place orders on the Uber Eats app and receive robot deliveries. (rttnews.com) Coco, founded in 2020, says it has completed more than 500,000 zero‑emission deliveries and already operates in Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and Jersey City. (ktvu.com) CEO Zach Rash said in the company release that "San Jose is exactly the kind of city Coco was built for," citing the downtown restaurant density and commuter population. (ktvu.com) The companies positioned the launch as an expansion across the South Bay that adds another off‑premise delivery channel for downtown eateries and mobile‑food events such as Street Eats. (bizjournals.com) Downtown merchants gave mixed reaction; Thai Chili Express said robots could ease parking and peak‑hour order volume, while some advocates worry about sidewalk congestion. (ktvu.com) Similar programs have faced vandalism and pushback elsewhere — Philadelphia reported attacks on Uber Eats delivery robots in April 2026 — even as San Jose officials, including Mayor Matt Mahan, welcomed a measured rollout. (nypost.com) On April 20, Coco announced a partnership with BlindSquare to share live robot data intended to alert blind and mobility‑limited users to curb and sidewalk conditions. (tmcnet.com) Coco and city officials said they will monitor initial operations in downtown San Jose and evaluate expanding service if the pilot meets safety and merchant‑service goals. (ktvu.com)