Sponsored By

Walmart to buy 4,500 EVs for online order delivery

Deal with Canoo part of efforts to expand last-mile delivery fleet

Russell Redman

July 13, 2022

3 Min Read
Walmart-Canoo electric delivery vehicle-LDV.jpg
Plans call for Walmart to test Canoo's Lifestyle Delivery Vehicles (LDV) in Dallas-Fort Worth in the coming months and the vehicles to go into production late this year, hitting the road in 2023.Walmart/Canoo

Pushing ahead with the buildup of its last-mile delivery fleet, Walmart plans to purchase 4,500 all-electric vehicles from EV designed Canoo, with the option to buy up to 10,000 units.

Bentonville, Ark.-based Canoo said yesterday that, in the coming weeks, the companies plan to initiate advanced deliveries to refine and finalize the configuration of its Lifestyle Delivery Vehicles (LDVs) in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. LDV production is expected to being in the fourth quarter, with the vehicles hitting the road in 2023.

A U.S.-made commercial EV, Canoo’s LDV is designed for sustainable, last-mile delivery use, with an optimized cabin and customized cargo space. The van-like vehicle is engineered for high-frequency, stop-and-go, small-package deliveries, along with faster vehicle-to-door drop-off, including grocery and food/meal delivery. The modular design and 120 cubic feet of cargo volume are adaptable to evolve with customer needs, enabling a decreasing per-unit investment over time, the company said.

Canoo noted that it employs “true steer by wire technology,” which reduces moving parts and cabin intrusion, yielding more usable interior space and improved driver ergonomics. The vehicle’s panoramic window also brings more road visibility.

Related:Walmart makes InHome grocery delivery an add-on to Walmart+

The Canoo EVs will be driven by Walmart associates and used to deliver online orders, from groceries to general merchandise. In addition, the vehicles may be used for Walmart GoLocal, the retail giant’s delivery-as-a-service business.

“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,” David Guggina, senior vice president of innovation and automation at Walmart U.S., said in a statement. “Today, the closest Walmart to customers is right in their pockets — it’s the Walmart app. 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.”

Earlier this year, Walmart unveiled plans to extend the reach of its "food to fridge" InHome Delivery service from 6 million U.S. households to 30 million households by the end of 2022. To that end, the company said it aimed to add more than 3,000 associate delivery drivers this year and build out a fleet of 100% all-electric delivery vans. The latter includes an agreement to reserve 5,000 electric-powered vans from General Motors’ BrightDrop subsidiary.

Related:Walmart goes EV in building out last-mile delivery fleet

To fulfill and deliver online orders, Walmart leverages dedicated fulfillment centers as well as 3,800 of its stores, which are located within 10 miles of 90% of the U.S. population. That’s achieved via a combination of Walmart associates, independent contractors participating in Walmart’s Spark Driver program, third-party delivery service providers and, in some locations, autonomous vehicles and drones. Through its fulfillment network, Walmart said it can reach 80% of the U.S. population with same-day delivery on an expanding assortment of items.

“Our LDV has the turning radius of a small passenger vehicle on a parking-friendly, compact footprint, yet 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,” stated Tony Aquila, chairman and CEO of Canoo. “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.”

Last year,  Canoo announced that it had selected Bentonville — where Walmart is based — as its headquarters and Pryor, Okla., as the site for its U.S. manufacturing.

Walmart’s Guggina commented, “We’re encouraged that by being located in close proximity to the Canoo headquarters, we have the advantage to collaborate and innovate in real time as well as the opportunity to aid in the creation of manufacturing and technology jobs here in our home state of Arkansas.”

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like