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The electric delivery van subsidiary of General Motors (GM), BrightDrop, has achieved a significant milestone by making its first-ever delivery outside of the United States. In a successful endeavor, the company handed over 50 BrightDrop Zevo 600 electric vans to FedEx Express Canada. This delivery is part of a larger order of 2,500 Zevo EVs placed by FedEx.
This move aligns with FedEx’s ambitious plan to transition its entire fleet to electric vehicles by 2040. The BrightDrop Zevo 600 model, designed specifically for last-mile deliveries, boasts an impressive estimated range of 250 miles. Currently, FedEx has approximately 400 Zevos in operation in Southern California.
In Canada, FedEx’s initial fleet of BrightDrop vehicles will be seen maneuvering the streets of Toronto, Montreal, and Surrey as they efficiently deliver packages. FedEx also emphasized its commitment to installing charging infrastructure across its Canadian facilities to support the electric vehicle deployment.
GM’s CAMI Assembly plant in Ontario played a pivotal role in the production of these vehicles. With an investment of around $750 million ($1 billion CAD), the plant commenced operations in December 2022. GM has high expectations for the facility, projecting an annual production capacity of 50,000 Zevo vans by 2025. Additionally, alongside the Zevo 600, GM is developing a smaller variant called the Zevo 400.
FedEx is among the prominent commercial partners of BrightDrop, but not the only one. The subsidiary has garnered significant interest, receiving approximately 30,000 reservations and letters of intent from esteemed customers, including Walmart, Hertz, Verizon, and most recently, Ryder.
In the realm of electric delivery van competition, Rivian has been a notable player. Starting in the summer of 2022, Rivian began deploying its vans and has already delivered roughly 3,000 units to Amazon, as reported by the e-commerce giant’s blog. Amazon’s vision entails having 100,000 Rivian vans on the road by 2030. In its first-quarter earnings report, Rivian reaffirmed its goal to manufacture 50,000 units this year, encompassing the R1S pickup truck and R1T SUV models.
BrightDrop’s successful international delivery signifies a significant step forward in the electric delivery van sector, while the competition between major players intensifies as they strive to revolutionize the future of commercial transportation.
