Internet retail giant Amazon has announced that it is to add 1,800 electric Mercedes-Benz vans to its European deliver fleet this year.
Amazon’s Delivery Service Partners will have access to the new fleet of zero-emission vehicles to make deliveries to customers in Europe this year.
The order is the largest Mercedes-Benz has received for electric vehicles to date. More than 1,200 EVs in the order will be the eSprinter, while the remaining 600 vehicles will be the manufacturer’s midsize electric van, the eVito, to give Delivery Service Partners operating in geographies that require a smaller-format vehicle access to a zero-emissions delivery option.
“Amazon is adding 1,800 electric delivery vehicles from Mercedes-Benz as part of our journey to build the most sustainable transportation fleet in the world, and we will be moving fast to get these vans on the road this year,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO.
Marcus Breitschwerdt, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, added: “I am delighted that we are further intensifying our long-standing partnership with Amazon and working together on the battery-electric future of transportation.”
“Amazon’s investment is a strong and concrete sign of its commitment and alignment to EU priorities,” said Fabio Massimo Castaldo, vice president at the European Parliament. “Amazon continues to contribute to the achievement of the EU Green Deal goals, foster technological innovation and generate resilient and sustainable jobs in Europe. I hope that other corporations will follow Amazon’s example in the near future.”
In addition to the van deal, Mercedes-Benz also announced it has joined The Climate Pledge, which calls on signatories to be net zero carbon across their businesses by 2040—a decade ahead of the Paris Agreement goal of 2050.
“By joining ‘The Climate Pledge’ we are building on our goal to consistently pursue emission-free mobility and sustainable vehicle production,” said Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG. “We stand with Amazon, Global Optimism and the other signatories of The Climate Pledge, in a commitment to being net zero carbon by 2040 – 10 years ahead of The Paris Agreement. I am pleased that we will be able to gain even more momentum on our sustainability offensive with this step.”
As part of Mercedes-Benz’s commitment, the company is evaluating ways to remove carbon from its entire value chain, from development to the supplier network, from its own production to the electrification of products and beyond, as well as to ensuring renewable energies for the use phase of electric vehicles. With its goal to have a CO2-neutral fleet of new cars in less than 20 years, Mercedes-Benz is making an important contribution to slowing climate change. By the end of this year, Mercedes-Benz’s vehicle portfolio will comprise five fully electric models and more than 20 plug-in hybrids.
