Yandex plans to launch delivery robots in Yerevan

By Siranush Adamyan

Yandex could soon deploy autonomous delivery robots on the streets of Yerevan, the head of Yandex Armenia said in an interview with CivilNet Business.

Aram Mkhitaryan, head of Yandex Armenia and Yango Group’s regional head for Central Asia and the Caucasus, said the company typically launches two or three new services each year.

He said Yandex Games is expected to launch in Armenia in the coming days, while autonomous delivery robots could be among the company’s next additions.

“I very much hope that soon we will also be able to see on the streets of Yerevan our robots, which are part of our physical AI and will be used for deliveries,” Mkhitaryan said.

He confirmed he was referring to the wheeled autonomous delivery robots the company already uses in other countries. Mkhitaryan did not give a specific timeframe for their launch in Armenia.

Yandex is also testing drone delivery technology, though not yet in Armenia. Mkhitaryan said such tests were underway in one of the countries where the company operates.

Yandex currently offers around 13 services in Armenia, he said. The total value of transactions conducted through those services is equivalent to about 1.2%-1.3% of Armenia’s gross domestic product.

More than 100,000 people earn income through the company’s platforms in various ways, mainly through taxi, delivery and food services, according to Mkhitaryan.

Yandex has operated in Armenia for 10 years. Its main service remains Yandex Go, which combines taxi, food delivery and courier services.