Walmart to Purchase 4,500 Canoo Vehicles for Last-mile Deliveries

Aiming to meet its goal of zero emissions by 2040, big-box store giant Walmart plans to purchase 4,500 all-electric delivery vehicles from Canoo, an American electric vehicle (EV) developer and manufacturer. With an option to buy up to 10,000 units, Walmart’s initial order of Canoo’s Lifestyle Delivery Vehicle (LDV), are intended to deliver the retailer’s online orders.

While production of the LDV is expected to begin late this year, the companies will kick-off advanced deliveries to refine and finalize vehicle configuration in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex in the next months.

The LDV is built on a proprietary multi-purpose platform architecture, integrating the motors, battery module and other critical driving components. Featuring a modular design and 120 cubic feet of cargo volume, the model utilizes steer-by-wire technology, reducing moving parts and cabin intrusion, resulting in more usable interior space, better driver ergonomics and the addition of a panoramic window to improve road visibility, according to a Canoo description.

“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, said Tony Aquila, Canoo chairman and CEO. “This is the winning algorithm to seriously compete in the last mile delivery race, globally.”

In addition to dedicated fulfillment centers, Walmart uses 3,800 of its stores to fulfill online orders, using a combination of Walmart associates, independent contractors driving on the Spark Driver Network, third-party delivery service providers, and in some locations, autonomous vehicles and drones, to make deliveries.