Walmart Plans Drone Delivery Launch in Charlotte University City Area

Walmart filed papers with Charlotte officials for a drone delivery setup at 7735 N. Tryon St. The store sits in University City. Plans call for adding a kiosk, a battery-powered generator, and fencing in the parking lot, as per Charlotte Observer

The kiosk won't have permanent power. It won't have plumbing either. Walmart hasn't said what it will spend on this.

Back in June, the company said it would team up with Wing, a drone operator, in Charlotte and four other cities. This came as part of a bigger push across the country. Wing—based out in Palo Alto, California—said the service should reach many stores within a year.

Spokeswoman Jennifer Chunn told The Charlotte Observer that other spots in Charlotte are under consideration. She said Walmart and Wing have started talking with local officials throughout the metro area. Wing aims to add service at 100 more stores.

Walmart+ members get free delivery for now. Non-members pay $19.99 per delivery, according to the company's website.

Drone delivery already works in Dallas, Texas, and Bentonville, Arkansas, where Walmart started. Other cities getting the service include Charlotte, Houston, Tampa, Orlando, and Atlanta.

Meals can be delivered by drone. So can groceries, household supplies, and over-the-counter medicines, according to the website. But weight and size restrictions apply.

Orders can't weigh more than 2.1 pounds. Packages must fit into the boxes the drones carry.

Walmart and Wing say deliveries can take just 30 minutes from when you order to when it arrives at your door. Stores with the service can reach customers up to 10 miles away.

People can sign up at wing.com/walmart to get notified when the service starts in their area.

Walmart becomes the second company to work with Wing in Charlotte. The city's first home drone delivery service started in May.

Wing partners with DoorDash for deliveries too. The lightweight drones fly on their own and cover a 4-mile radius from The Arboretum shopping center off Providence Road. An 18-pad "nest" sits behind fencing in the parking lot—drones get stored there, charged there, and take off from there.

Panera Bread is one restaurant taking part. DashMart by Drone also operates, bringing drinks, snacks, and medicine in as little as 15 minutes. Seventeen stores and restaurants work with DoorDash for this, including Walmart.