Zipline crosses two million deliveries, expands to Houston and Phoenix

Zipline has crossed two million commercial deliveries and raised more than $600 million as it prepares to expand operations to Houston and Phoenix in early 2026. The company said the latest funding round values it at $7.6 billion and will support further expansion across the United States.

The company said demand for its delivery services continues to rise as it scales operations in multiple markets. Zipline delivers food, retail and healthcare products directly to customers through its autonomous delivery system. In Houston and Phoenix, customers will be able to order a wide range of products through the Zipline app, with deliveries expected to arrive within minutes.

Zipline said its US deliveries have grown by about 15 per cent week over week over the past seven months. The company added that new markets are reaching scale faster than earlier launches, reflecting increased adoption of autonomous delivery services. The expansion into Houston and Phoenix marks the next phase of its growth in urban and suburban markets.

“Autonomous logistics has been maturing for more than a decade, and the last year has made it unmistakably clear that when deliveries are faster, cleaner, safer, and cheaper, demand isn’t just high; it grows exponentially,” said Keller Cliffton, CEO and co-founder of Zipline. “In 2026, autonomous logistics will become an everyday staple for people across several states in the U.S. That transformation starts with Houston and my hometown of Phoenix, which we’ll begin serving early this year, and then expand to even more places across the country throughout the year.”

The company said its system is designed for speed and reliability, with a median flight time of three minutes. Zipline added that customer adoption has accelerated as new locations come online, with newer sites reaching delivery volume targets in days rather than weeks.

One customer in Anna, Texas, described the service as “seamless” and said it had become part of daily life. “What initially felt like a novelty quickly became something much deeper: a seamless, clean, and surprisingly emotional enhancement to daily life,” she said. “From my five-year-old being able to order his favourite Gusher snack to my older kids watching the delivery process with fascination, Zipline has created joy and engagement in a way traditional delivery never has.”

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said the expansion reflects the city’s position in advanced technology and logistics. “This investment will bring affordable, faster, and cleaner delivery options to our community and reinforce Phoenix’s position at the forefront of the future of logistics and mobility,” she said.

The funding round included participation from Fidelity Management & Research Company, Baillie Gifford, Valor Equity Partners and Tiger Global. Zipline said the capital will be used to expand into at least four new states in 2026, with Houston and Phoenix as the first locations.

Antonio Gracias, founder and CEO of Valor Equity Partners, said autonomous delivery will become standard in the coming years. “In the next 5 to 10 years, deliveries made by autonomous aircraft will become standard. That revolution is going to be led by Zipline,” he said.

Zipline said it has now completed more than two million commercial deliveries and logged over 125 million autonomous miles. The company added that its aircraft have delivered more than 20 million items without a serious injury, positioning autonomous delivery as a growing part of logistics infrastructure.