McDonald’s called its 1975 car-based ordering innovation the Drive-Thru.
McDonald’s opened its first Drive-Thru at a restaurant in Sierra Vista, Arizona, in 1975. The location served nearby Fort Huachuca personnel who could not leave their vehicles while wearing military uniforms, creating a practical reason for the new service format.
Customers could order and receive food without entering the restaurant. The Drive-Thru later became one of the most important parts of McDonald’s operating model and a major point of convenience in its brand identity.
The term is sometimes confused with the older drive-in model, in which customers were served while parked. A Drive-Thru uses a dedicated lane, ordering point, and pickup window, making it a distinct restaurant format.