Amazon taps Sweden’s Einride for its electric big rigs

Swedish startup Einride is set to enhance Amazon's freight network by adding 75 of its electric heavy-duty trucks, marking a significant partnership for both entities. This agreement, unveiled on Tuesday, allows Einride to integrate its innovative transportation solutions into Amazon's Relay network, which facilitates truck drivers in securing hauling jobs with the e-commerce titan. Under the terms of the deal, Einride will also establish charging infrastructure at five strategic locations throughout the United States. However, Amazon will not be purchasing or directly operating these electric vehicles. Instead, Einride will retain ownership and management of the trucks, utilizing its proprietary Saga AI software to oversee operations. Roozbeh Charli, Einride's CEO, expressed that this collaboration serves as a profound endorsement of the startup's technological capabilities and vision. "Deploying our intelligent platform within such a sophisticated logistics framework helps us accelerate our growth while enhancing our operational expertise," he remarked. Einride has garnered significant attention and funding for its unique approach to freight transportation, operating a fleet of approximately 200 electric trucks for notable clients like Heineken and PepsiCo across Europe, North America, and the UAE. The company is also known for its innovative cab-less autonomous trucks, although this agreement does not encompass those vehicles. This partnership comes at a pivotal moment for Einride, which is in the process of merging with the blank-check firm Legato Merger Corp., with plans to go public in the near future. For Amazon, with a staggering market valuation of $2.7 trillion, this deal may not seem monumental, yet it plays a crucial role in the company's sustainability objectives. Amazon aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across its operations by 2040. An Amazon representative highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating, "This rollout is a significant stride in tackling one of the most challenging aspects of decarbonizing our transportation network — the electrification of heavy-duty trucking. We look forward to collaborating with Einride and gaining insights from these operations as the trucks begin their journey on the road."