America's Love Of Drive-thrus
1A
NPR
4.3 • 4.5K Ratings
🗓️ 11 December 2023
⏱️ 38 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Now, estimates suggest there are around 200,000 drive-thrus across the country. They grew in popularity during the pandemic.
Drive-thrus have a history of innovation. Fast food companies are experimenting with new technology at their fast food windows, like AI chatbots or elevator food delivery systems that cut out human-to-human interaction.
Drive-thrus also offer more than just fast food. Drive-thru funeral homes, banks, and convenience stores save people the step of getting out of their cars.
We discuss the history and future of America's drive-thrus.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This message comes from NPR sponsor, Robbinsberger. |
| 0:03.2 | Jingle all the way to holiday memories with Robbinsberger jigsaw puzzles. |
| 0:08.0 | This holiday season, bond with loved ones and make memorable moments piece by peace. |
| 0:13.8 | Find the perfect gift on Amazon.com. Drive-thruss, let you stay seated. |
| 0:27.0 | I don't want to have to get out. |
| 0:30.0 | And singing in your car while getting your food. |
| 0:33.6 | Sir, excuse me, you're number one with the coat. |
| 0:37.6 | Enjoy. |
| 0:38.8 | Drive-thrus have been around on the American scene since the mid 20th century, |
| 0:43.0 | thanks to the rise of American car culture |
| 0:45.8 | and the highway system. |
| 0:47.1 | And their dominance is growing. |
| 0:49.0 | Today, get this, there are an estimated 200,000 drive-thrus nationwide. But what used to sound like this, |
| 0:58.0 | Welcome to Goodburger, home of the Goodburger, can I take your order? |
| 1:02.0 | Starting to sound, more like this. Good Burger, can I take your order? |
| 1:03.1 | Starting to sound, more like this. |
| 1:05.6 | Hi, what can I make fresh for you today? |
| 1:07.5 | AI ChatBots are taking orders |
| 1:09.7 | at a small but growing percentage of drive-thrus, |
| 1:12.4 | and that's just one way that innovation is |
| 1:14.3 | changing what it means to grab and go in your car. Today we're talking about the |
| 1:19.8 | rising popularity and the controversy around the evolving all-American |
... |
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