Delivering the Future: How XPEL'S Paint Protection Film Shields COCO’s Delivery Fleet

The autonomous future has begun. On streets and sidewalks around the world, autonomous vehicles of all sizes navigate city streets delivering people, goods and services to their final destinations.

Autonomous taxis are gaining prominence, and delivery robots are becoming a common sight in urban environments and on college campuses. With thousands of units already deployed, industry analysts project explosive growth in the use of autonomous robots for last-mile deliveries.  

To meet the needs of this growing market, operators must ensure their fleets are always ready to deliver. That means protecting them from environmental damage and the wear-and-tear of daily deliveries. 

Meet Coco 

Coco Robotics is transforming urban logistics with its self-driving delivery vehicles. What began as a campus experiment at UCLA has evolved into a company that has completed over 500,000 zero-emission deliveries across major U.S. cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami, as well as in Helsinki, its first European market. With thousands more vehicles expected to deploy by the end of 2026, Coco is on track to operate the largest autonomous vehicle fleet in the world. 

Co-founders Zach Rash and Brad Squicciarini recognized the potential market for autonomous robots in the last-mile delivery space. They began by delivering toothbrushes and candy from their apartment with the goal of developing a solution for last-mile deliveries that could get things from point A to point B quickly and affordably with zero emissions, helping to protect the environment. 

The result was Coco, an ultra-low-cost, purpose-built autonomous vehicle. Each 100-pound delivery robot was designed and engineered for efficient city travel with AI self-driving features, an all-day battery and 90L of storage space – enough for four full grocery bags, six XL pizzas and just about anything else. Each unit features a mechanical lock controlled by software to ensure food security throughout the delivery process. The robots travel at safe speeds suitable for sidewalks and bike lanes, and their batteries operate ten times more efficiently than those in electric vehicles.   

The Urban Battlefield and the Need for Protection 

Coco robots are currently integrated with major food delivery platforms like Uber Eats and DoorDash, where customers can opt for autonomous delivery. Operating in metropolitan environments exposes Coco's robots to many of the same hazards as traditional vehicles, along with unique challenges tied to their accessible, approachable design. 

"It's the sidewalk environment, so it's constantly changing," explained Rob Zehner, VP of Engineering at Coco Robotics. "There's the dust, dirt and debris that comes from being in a city, and the robots are out in the weather all day, every day, so they’re exposed to everything from rain to snow to the hot sun.” 

In addition to environmental conditions, the robots operate in dynamic public spaces where they naturally interact with people and everyday activity. 

“They might get bumped by someone on a bike or a scooter, and they get transported in vans, so they’re being jostled,” said Zehner. “People are also very curious; our robots are small and approachable, so people are more likely to interact with them than they would with a car or delivery van.” 

Those interactions can range from friendly engagement - like taking photos - to the occasional instance of physical impact creating scratches or surface markings. 

The cumulative effects of weather, human and environmental factors create significant maintenance challenges for a company trying to maintain a professional appearance and operational efficiency. 

XPEL's Solution: Custom-Cut Paint Protection Film 

Recognizing the protection considerations facing its fleet, Coco turned to XPEL. The genesis for the partnership emerged from Zehner, a long-time automotive enthusiast who understood the benefits of paint protection film.   

"I'm a bit of a car nut, and I've been aware of XPEL's protective film for years. I’ve always been really impressed with the level of performance protecting against scuffs, stains and scratches to help lengthen the life of the finish on a vehicle. I knew before we even started working with them that this was going to be the right solution to help make our robots look good for as long as possible. Customers expect that their food will be delivered in a vehicle that looks neat and clean. By wrapping our robots with XPEL, we can easily wipe them down with a mild cleaner, and they just clean right up." 

The collaboration, which began in 2023, resulted in the creation of custom-cut paint protection film (PPF) specifically designed for the unique geometry and shape of the Coco robots. Unlike traditional automotive applications requiring skilled installers, the custom cuts allow Coco's technical team to apply protection in-house within minutes. 

“We gave XPEL the CAD for the robot, and they developed cut files for both the lid and the body,” Zehner said. “They ship us the pre-cut pieces on a carrier film, which saves our team time because we don’t have to sit there with a razor blade getting everything ready.”   

So far, the XPEL PPF has exceeded expectations. 

"We're getting multiple years of use," Zehner reports. “If the film does get heavily scratched or damaged, we can simply remove it and apply a new one," Zehner explains. "We've protected the underlying surface, so we don't have to repaint the robot. We can just replace that film, and it looks good as new." 

Coco at Road America: Racing Meets Robotics 

The partnership's public debut came at the XPEL Grand Prix IndyCar race at Road America, where two Coco robots appeared in Scott McLaughlin inspired XPEL IndyCar livery. Coco’s robocouriers were wrapped in the black and yellow of McLaughlin’s #3 Chevrolet and used to “surprise and delight” attendees with XPEL giveaway items. The robots even played special pre-recorded voice lines from Scott McLaughlin himself during deliveries. 

"Part of our business is using our vehicles for display advertising, so we love partnering with people to come up with really fun activations,” said Zehner. “This one was particularly fun as we were able to engage with race fans and give them the chance to interact with our robots.”  

Ready to protect your fleet for the future?  

As autonomous delivery technologies gain momentum, companies like Coco Robotics are proving that durability and presentation are critical to success. With XPEL’s PPF, the Coco fleet is ready to perform at its best – day after day, mile after mile.