Amazon Orders 20,000 Mercedes Vans to Bolster Delivery Program
Daimler AG is emerging as a beneficiary of Amazon.com Inc.’s booming package-delivery needs, with the e-commerce giant ordering 20,000 of the German automaker’s Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans.
Mercedes, which just opened a new plant in North Charleston, S.C., started producing Amazon-branded vans for the online retailer’s Delivery Service Partner program, which enables small businesses to lease vans for deliveries through third-party fleet management companies.
#Amazon becomes the world’s largest #Sprinter customer: New Partnership with #Amazon includes the delivery of 20,000 #vans for small businesses across the U.S., making the online retailer the world’s largest Sprinter customer. #Daimler #intelligentproduction #smartproduction pic.twitter.com/PfgASudM88 — Daimler AG (@Daimler) September 5, 2018
Amazon is assisting small businesses across the U.S. by providing discounted vehicles, fuel, insurance, uniforms and access to delivery technology, the Seattle-based company said in June. The bulk purchase of Sprinter vans makes Amazon the largest buyer of the model, Mercedes said in a statement Sept. 5.
