Bengaluru, August 09, 2023: Eicher Trucks and Buses, a business division of VE Commercial Vehicles Limited (VECV), has announced collaboration with Amazon to further enable the electrification of Amazon’s middle-mile and last-mile delivery operations in India. This collaboration between VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd. and Amazon represents a significant milestone by aiming to introduce up to 1,000 cutting-edge, zero-emission electric trucks across various payload categories into Amazon’s delivery operations over the next five years, deployed through Amazon’s transport service partners. Middle-mile refers to the intermediate transportation leg, where shipments are moved between Amazon facilities, whereas last mile is the final transportation leg, where packages are delivered to the customers.
As a first step in the collaboration, Amazon will deploy 50 Eicher’s electric trucks for middle-mile and last-mile deliveries in major cities like Delhi, Manesar, and Gurugram by the end of 2024. Eicher’s electric trucks will feature advanced digital capabilities and will be built on Eicher’s established electric vehicle (EV) platform already in operation. The trucks will come with deck lengths ranging from approximately eight to 24 feet, as well as customised cargo stacking configurations. Additionally, they will provide both fast and slow charging options to meet the different needs of the trucking operations. This service solution also factors in availability of charging infrastructure, operational requirements, charging time constraints, battery capacity, and overall energy management strategies of the fleet.
Vinod Aggarwal, Managing Director and CEO of VECV, stated, “We are pleased to collaborate with Amazon as we begin pilots for Amazon’s e-commerce deliveries in Indore, Delhi, Manesar, and Gurugram. This partnership reflects our commitment to promoting smart sustainable solution and developing a zero-emission transport ecosystem.”
Abhinav Singh, VP of Customer Fulfilment, Amazon Transportation Services, Global Specialty Fulfilment, and Supply Chain at Amazon India, said “We are proud to work with key partners to lead the way in the electrification of a wide range of vehicles within our delivery operations. At this scale, there is no established playbook for fleet transformation, but we are making progress through collaborations like this one to transform our network. We remain committed and are well on our way to integrate 10,000 EVs into our delivery fleet in India by 2025. We continue to invite fellow innovators and solution providers in the electric mobility and sustainable transportation space to join us in accelerating decarbonisation of the logistics industry.”
“The collaboration between Amazon and Volvo Eicher marks a significant milestone in the collective effort to decarbonize freight transportation, heralding a pivotal step in advancing electric mobility in India. As an integral part of our e-FAST program, this partnership promises to yield invaluable insights for the broader electric mobility sector in the country. By embracing such initiatives, we pave the way for a sustainable and environmentally conscious future,” said Shri Sudhendu Jyoti Sinha, Adviser, NITI Aayog.
Aligning with its efforts to promote use of electric mobility in its network across the country, Amazon has successfully deployed EVs in its delivery fleet through delivery service partners across more than 400 cities in India. The collaboration between Amazon India and Eicher supports Amazon’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. This collaboration also exemplifies both companies’ shared commitment to driving innovation and leveraging advanced technologies to build a more sustainable future.
