Coco food delivery bots arrive in Austin

Don't be alarmed if you spot a driverless, four-wheeled robot making its way through town.

Driving the news: Los Angeles-based Coco, a remotely piloted delivery service, has officially expanded to Austin, the company announced Tuesday.

• It's Coco's first operation outside LA, and the company has partnered with Austin favorites: Arpeggio Grill, Bamboo Bistro, Clay Pit, DeSano Pizzeria, Tuk Tuk Thai and Aviator Pizza.
• More merchants will be added "over the coming weeks to accommodate the rapid influx of merchant interest," the company said in a press release.
• The local launch includes service for the South Lamar, South Congress, South Austin, Downtown, Northside, North Loop and Domain neighborhoods.

The Austin rollout is expected to include 50 new Coco 1 bots, which look like ice cream carts — minus a charming person pushing them.

• The bots rely on remote operators to monitor the autonomous deliveries.

What they're saying: "When evaluating markets for expansion, Austin stood out to the team as a perfect match," said Coco co-founder Zach Rash. "Austin's entrepreneurial spirit, top notch food scene, and commitment to supporting small businesses makes it an ideal fit for Coco."

What's next: Company officials said they are targeting Dallas, Houston and Miami in the next few months.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the Austin rollout is expected to include 50 new Coco 1 bots, not 20.