Exploring New Routes: FIA Member Club Delegates visit Zipline drone delivery company’s headquarters in Rwanda

Today, as part of the FIA General Assemblies week, the FIA and the Drone & Vertical Mobility Academy hosted a visit to the Zipline’s headquarters in Kigali, and gave FIA Member Club delegates the chance to discover how cutting-edge drone technology is transforming healthcare delivery and unlocking new possibilities for Club development.

Zipline is the world’s largest drone delivery company. Shipping one package every 90 seconds, the company helps to deliver over 1.3 million medical supply, equipment, and grocery parcels worldwide each year.

Drone delivery has a particularly important role to play in emergency situations or in areas with poor road access, with Zipline drones delivering up to 10 times faster than traditional car deliveries.

During the visit, FIA Club delegates were invited to explore the company’s headquarters and learn more about how drones are prepared and programmed for each delivery. They also witnessed innovation in action, as they watched a drone take off to deliver life-saving resources such as blood and medical kits within minutes.

Organised with the Drone and Vertical Mobility Academy — which aims to give FIA Members the knowledge to operate drones safely and effectively — the visit focused on how these technologies can be adapted to benefit Clubs and their members.

FIA Secretary General for Automobile Mobility Willem Groenewald said: “We strongly believe that drone solutions represent an excellent opportunity for our Clubs to diversify their activities and generate new sources of income. By exploring the potential of these innovative technologies, we can empower Clubs to enhance their services and deliver greater value to their members. We are committed to facilitating access to such evolving advancements and fostering a culture of innovation. Sharing learnings and knowledge across our network incubates a dynamic environment for Member clubs to advance the implementation of future technologies today.”

The Drone and Vertical Mobility Academy was launched in 2022 by the Touring Club Switzerland, with the support of the FIA.