Amazon Rolls Out Electric Delivery Trucks Across Metro Detroit

One sign that a package is about to arrive at a home or an office is the roar of a delivery truck as it rolls to a stop along a street. But that telltale sign will soon give way to near silence, both here and around the country, as Amazon rolls out its new line of electric delivery vehicles.
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The electric Amazon delivery truck will be tested in 16 cities, including Detroit. // Courtesy of Amazon
The electric Amazon delivery truck will be tested in 16 cities, including Detroit. // Courtesy of Amazon

One sign that a package is about to arrive at a home or an office is the roar of a delivery truck as it rolls to a stop along a street. But that telltale sign will soon give way to near silence, both here and around the country, as Amazon rolls out its new line of electric delivery vehicles.

This week, Amazon begins testing and training delivery drivers on how to operate and optimize a fleet of up to 100,000 electric delivery vehicles. The signature two-tone blue trucks were designed in partnership with Rivian, an EV manufacturer based in Plymouth Township.

Detroit is one of 16 cities where Amazon will be using EV vehicles for customer deliveries in 2021. The online retailer states Detroit was selected for the initial rollout because of its broad customer base, infrastructure, and climate variation. Amazon plans to operate 10,000 of these vehicles as early as next year.

“From what we’ve seen, this is one of the fastest modern commercial electrification programs, and we’re incredibly proud of that,” says Ross Rachey, director of global fleet and products at Amazon.

“Our continued growth and investment in Michigan, paired with Detroit’s iconic automotive history, made this launch particularly special for us. We’re excited for our Motor City customers and communities to see the next generation of delivery bringing packages to their doorstep.”

Deliveries will initially be conducted from Amazon’s delivery station in Pontiac. Amazon plans to launch deliveries from other sites in metro Detroit soon.

Amazon currently operates thousands of electric vehicles worldwide, and is re-designing its delivery stations to service electric vehicles — ranging from the electrical design to the physical layout. Last year alone, Amazon delivered more than 20 million packages to customers in electric delivery vehicles across North America and Europe.

To learn more about Amazon’s electric delivery truck, visit here.