ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co and Dominos Pizza Inc in September will begin testing Michigan consumers reactions to having their pies delivered by self-driving vehicles, the companies said on Tuesday.

It will not be the first experiment with advanced pizza delivery technology. Australia-based Dominos Pizza Enterprises, the Ann Arbor-based companys largest independent franchisee, has tested delivery to customers in New Zealand via drone and self-driving robot.

In a blog post last week, Sherif Marakby, head of Fords autonomous and electric vehicles, signaled the automakers broader ambitions, saying Ford planned to cooperate with multiple partners in deploying self-driving vehicles designed to improve the movement of people and goods.

Previously, Ford executives had said the company expected to launch a self-driving shuttle for commercial ride-sharing fleets in 2021.

Dominos and Ford will deliver pizzas to randomly selected customers in the Ann Arbor area in a Ford Fusion Hybrid equipped with self-driving technology. The delivery vehicles initially will be piloted by human drivers.