Walmart Signs Up For Canoo’s Electric Delivery Vehicles

Walmart has signed an agreement with high-tech mobility company Canoo to purchase 4,500 all-electric vehicles to be used to deliver online orders. The agreement provides the company with the Lifestyle Delivery Vehicle (LDV), a vehicle with the turning radius of a passenger car, compact footprint and expanded cargo space. The retailer has the option to purchase up to 10,000 additional units, putting Walmart closer to achieving its goal of zero-emissions by 2040.

Walmart associates will drive the electric vehicles, delivering online grocery and general merchandise orders. The vehicles can also be used for Walmart GoLocal.

“Walmart uses 3,800 of its stores, which are located within 10 miles of 90% of the U.S. population” to fulfill and deliver online orders, the company said in a statement. Walmart associates, independent contractors, third-party providers, and in some locations autonomous vehicles and drones, make the deliveries. This last mile delivery network will allow the company to expand its same-day delivery services to 80% of the U.S. population.

“We're thrilled to continue diversifying our last mile delivery fleet with Canoo's unique and sustainably focused all-electric technology, which will provide our associates with safe, ergonomic delivery vehicles," said David Guggina, senior vice president of innovation and automation, Walmart U.S.

“By continuing to expand our last mile delivery fleet in a sustainable way, we're able to provide customers and Walmart members with even more access to same-day deliveries, while keeping costs low,” he continued.

The Arkansas-based EV company describes its Canoo LDV as “an American-made commercial EV optimized for sustainable last mile delivery use cases...built on a proprietary multi-purpose platform (MPP) architecture that integrates the motors, battery module, and other critical driving components.” 

“We are proud to have been selected by Walmart...our LDV has the turning radius of a small passenger vehicle on a parking friendly, compact footprint, yet (with) the payload and cargo space of a commercial delivery vehicle. This is the winning algorithm to seriously compete in the last mile delivery race, globally,” says Tony Aquila, Investor, Chairman and CEO of Canoo in a statement. “Walmart's massive store footprint provides a strategic advantage in today's growing ‘need-it-now’ mindset, and an unmatched opportunity for growing EV demand, especially at today's gas prices.”