Amazon has revealed its first custom electric delivery vehicle, designed and built in partnership with Rivian. It’s one of three different models that Amazon has invested in and completely customized with Rivian to enhance the driver experience and optimize safety.
Amazon’s custom electric vehicle features a state-of-the-art sensor detection, a suite of highway and traffic assist technology, and a large windshield to enhance driver visibility. It also offers Alexa integration for hands-free access to route information and the latest weather updates.
As part of its commitment to be net zero carbon by 2040, 10,000 Amazon custom electric delivery vehicles will be on the road delivering to customers worldwide as early as 2022 and all 100,000 by 2030.
Ross Rachey, Director of Amazon’s Global Fleet and Products, says: “When we set out to create our first customized electric delivery vehicle with Rivian, we knew that it needed to far surpass any other delivery vehicle. We wanted drivers to love using it and customers to feel excited when they saw it driving through their neighborhood and pulling up to their home. We combined Rivian’s technology with our delivery logistics knowledge, and the result is what you see here-the future of last mile delivery.”
RJ Scaringe, Rivian CEO, adds: “The vehicle we’ve developed with Amazon is not just electric. We prioritized safety and functionality to create a vehicle that’s optimized for package delivery. We thought through how drivers get in and out of the van, what the work space feels like and what the work flow is for delivering packages.”
Amazon has already announced that it’s adding 1,800 electric delivery vehicles this year to its fleet in Europe and is also adding 10,000 electric delivery vehicles to its fleet in India, operating in over 20 cities by 2025. In the EU, Amazon also uses e-cargo bikes for deliveries in some urban centres and operates 200 e-cargo bikes in the New York City area.
