Dive Brief:

• Domino’s is deploying over 100 custom-branded 2023 Chevy Bolt electric vehicles at select franchise and corporate locations throughout the U.S. in November, the company announced Monday.
• The pizza giant will add another 700 Bolts in the coming months, making it the largest electric pizza delivery fleet in the United States, the company claims. It aims to have 855 EVs on the road by the end of 2023. 
• The chain, which has been working to bolster its delivery workforce, said these vehicles will provide an opportunity to attract drivers who don’t have their own cars. 

Dive Insight:

Any technology that can better attract a delivery workforce could help Domino’s improve sluggish delivery sales. Earlier this year, the company initiated several strategies to attract more drivers, including offering more flexible hours and an easier application system. The company has been employing third-party call centers across its system to free up in-store labor, as well. These efforts have paid off, with same-store delivery sales showing signs of improvement. 

Domino’s latest effort follows years of technology pilots, which included testing autonomous pizza delivery with cars and robots. In 2021, the chain partnered with artificial intelligence company Datatron to improve store operations and standardize the chain’s employment of artificial intelligence. That partnership allowed Domino’s to forecast in-store labor and streamline delivery vehicle routes for efficiency. 

This EV fleet plays into Domino’s commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, Domino’s CEO Russell Weiner said in a press release. These vehicles offer long battery life and could provide “days of deliveries, zero tailpipe emissions, advanced safety features and lower average maintenance costs” compared to gas-powered cars, the company said. Enterprise Fleet Management will help Domino’s with account management, vehicle acquisition, financing, telematics solutions and maintenance.