DETROIT, MI - From fully driverless deliveries to electric vehicles, Walmart is taking multiple steps to elevate its delivery service. Simultaneously advancing its transportation fleet and sustainability goals, the retailer has tapped BrightDrop to optimize last-mile delivery, signing an agreement to reserve 5,000 of BrightDrop’s EV600 and smaller EV410 electric delivery vans to support its expanding delivery network and ambitious goal of operating a zero-emissions logistics fleet by 2040.
“As important as it is that we save our customers time and money through convenient delivery options, it’s just as important that we focus on creating a more sustainable last-mile delivery fleet that avoids emissions,” said Tom Ward, Senior Vice President of Last Mile, Walmart U.S. “BrightDrop’s proven ability to bring a sustainable electric van to market makes them a great partner to support our growing InHome delivery service, and we look forward to continuing driving our goal of operating a 100 percent zero-emissions logistics fleet by 2040.”
News of the partnership was announced at General Motors' CES event when BrightDrop revealed Walmart and FedEx will be benefiting from its last-mile service. Walmart plans to utilize BrightDrop electric vans as part of its InHome delivery service, as noted in a press release, which it recently expanded as part of a strategy to reach 30 million homes across the United States in 2022. The innovative delivery service was launched in 2019 and uses highly trained associates to deliver fresh groceries and everyday essentials directly into shoppers’ kitchens or garage refrigerators.
Walmart may be using BrightDrop’s electric vans as early as 2023 to enable secure and low-emission deliveries for third-party retailers and brands via Walmart GoLocal, the company’s white-labeled delivery-as-a-service business unveiled earlier this year.
“BrightDrop’s mission is to decarbonize the world’s deliveries. We leverage the best of two worlds—the innovation, agility, and focus of a technology start-up with the engineering and manufacturing might of General Motors,” said BrightDrop President and Chief Executive Officer Travis Katz. “This combination, coupled with BrightDrop’s holistic solution set, gives us powerful advantages that uniquely position us to support the world’s largest delivery companies, like Walmart and FedEx, with their robust sustainability goals. Today’s commitments showcase our ability to power the electrification journey of some of the world’s biggest companies.”
To further support the growth of InHome delivery, Walmart also plans to hire over 3,000 associate delivery drivers and equip them with an all-electric fleet of delivery vehicles to back its 2040 target of operating a 100 percent zero-emissions logistics fleet.
AndNowUKnow will continue to report as we watch these growth tactics play out in the retail sector, so stay tuned.
