From drones to Doordash: how service parts logistics is evolving

At a time in which convenience is a hugely influential factor on consumer behaviour, some organisations are exploring new ways to make the delivery of aftermarket parts more seamless. Two recent examples from the US have shown how both hardware and software can be a game-changer for service parts logistics.

Drone deliveries

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22-24 September | St John's Resort, Plymouth, MI

Jack Demmer Automotive Group, a family-owned Ford dealership network in Michigan, recently launched an autonomous drone delivery programme, supplying customers across the Metro Detroit area with automotive parts via drone. The drones will deliver high-demand parts to customers within a 12-mile radius of the group's dealerships in Wayne and Dearborn – both in Wayne County within the Metro Detroit metropolitan area of Michigan.

The programme is being delivered in partnership with drone technology companies Airspace Link and Blueflite, with support from the Centrepolis Accelerator. It recieved $740,000 in funding in the form of a grant from Michigan's Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Activation Fund.

The initiative is designed to address what has been identified as a persistent logistics challenge for dealerships: traffic congestion and workforce shortages leading to delayed parts delivery, slower vehicle repairs and frustrated customers. Avoiding road congestion by moving parts in the air, the dealership network aims to create a more resilient and efficient automotive supply chain.

Following successful pilot test flights in Metro Detroit Airspace, commercial operations have now begun along the Ann Arbor–Detroit drone corridor.

"At Jack Demmer Automotive Group, the 'Demmer Difference' has always been about finding new ways to better serve our customers," said Mark Hatfield, parts manager at Jack Demmer Ford. "From investing in technology to creating a faster, more convenient ownership experience, we're constantly looking ahead and drone delivery of automotive parts is a natural extension of that commitment."

Hatfield said that this programme will allow the company to move critical parts faster than ever before, therefore reducing repair delays, streamlining efficiency and improving customer experience.

"It's not just about speed—it's about delivering the level of service, innovation and customer care that our customers have come to expect from Jack Demmer," he added. "As a company deeply rooted in Southeast Michigan, it's exciting to be part of a project that's not only improving the customer experience today, but helping shape the future of transportation and logistics for generations to come."

As well as helping to better serve Jack Demmer Automotive Group's customers, the programme will generate operational data to inform regulatory policy, accelerate industry adoption of drone logistics and serve as a national model for scaling drone delivery across the automotive sector and beyond.

Doordash's aftermarket expansion

In June 2026, food and retail delivery company Doordash announced its entry into the automotive parts logistics industry through the launch of Autoparts.com – an on-demand platform available within the Doordash app, delivered in partnership with a network of independent automotive parts distributors.

"Auto parts is a category where speed isn't a luxury; it's a necessity," commented Fuad Hannon, vice president of new verticals at Doordash. "Getting an auto part used to mean dropping everything to get to the store and hoping they had what you needed, or phoning a friend for help… Doordash is changing that."

Read more: Service parts retailer Autodoc to modernise last-mile delivery with AI-powered platform

Automotive parts retailer Autodoc has partnered with last-mile technology provider FarEye to modernise its delivery processes and improve customer experience.

Customers provide their location, vehicle model and the parts they are looking for, and Autoparts.com will search nearby stores for same-day availability. If no nearby stores have the correct parts in stock, it searches its network of national warehouses to provide home delivery options.

On average, Doordash has said its customers can have parts delivered in under an hour, with a wide range of parts available for different vehicles, including brakes, engines exhausts, tires and more. Components can be ordered from some of the largest independently owned automotive parts stores in North America, with orders fulfilled by Doordash's existing network of delivery drivers and riders.

"What's exciting about DoorDash is the scale and what it returns to local economies: more volume through neighborhood stores, more earning opportunities for drivers in those communities and the exact part at your door on-demand," said Rich Keller, founder and CEO of Autoparts.com. "It's a win for everyone in the chain."

Keller is also CEO of 1-800-Battery, which describes itself as "the largest battery marketplace in North America". Autoparts.com expands on the marketplace model developed by 1-800-Battery, using the same underlying technology and leadership to extend from batteries into the broader automotive aftermarket.

As well as sellers of aftermarket parts, Autoparts.com is reportedly looking to onboard more dealerships in North America, providing new revenue opportunities for dealerships willing to list original manufacturer parts on third-party platforms such as Autoparts.com.