Logistics and delivery is a sector that continues to expand (so much so that even our own PostNord has abandoned its historic mailboxes to focus on delivery), and it represents one of the paradoxes in a Europe striving to become zero-emission. Amazon, however, has embraced this challenge and aims to transform its European logistics network into a decarbonized model by 2040.
This is not just about purchasing electric trucks, but about completely rethinking how goods move from warehouse to customer. We discussed this with Olivier Pellegrini, Customer Delivery Experience Director at Amazon, whom we met at EVision 2026. He shared insights on progress, challenges, and the innovative solutions the company is testing across its European logistics hubs.
The key is the middle mile
When discussing the electrification of logistics, the “middle mile”—the segment connecting regional distribution centers to local nodes—is perhaps the most challenging. This is where Amazon has launched its most ambitious pilot program in partnership with Mercedes-Benz Trucks.
“For the middle mile, we have this large program in partnership with Mercedes-Benz Trucks” explains Pellegrini. “We are using the eActros from Mercedes-Benz Trucks, which are currently operating in two countries and helping us learn how these new vehicles work to move our inventory and shipments to customers.”
Image: DAVID PLAS PHOTOGRAPHY
The project began in 2022 and remains in an active learning phase. Pellegrini emphasizes that this is not a simple technological rollout, but a process of operational transformation and continuous learning: “We started this journey in 2022 and we are still learning what it means for drivers, for operations, and what it entails to have this new type of vehicle.”
The complexity of the middle mile compared to the last mile is significant. As Pellegrini points out, it involves entirely new technologies, products still under development, and a much more intricate operational network. Market volumes require substantial investment—around 200 units in the pilot—and sufficient scale is needed to draw meaningful strategic conclusions.
Last mile and micromobility
In the last mile, however, Amazon is already seeing significant results. “For the last mile, it is much easier,” says Pellegrini. “The investments are not the same, and the infrastructure is easier to obtain.”
But the real innovation in last-mile delivery is not just the use of light electric vehicles. Amazon has normalized micromobility alternatives, experimenting with e-bikes and even on-foot delivery. The numbers are impressive: over the past five years, “we have delivered millions of parcels using e-bikes and pedestrians, at different scales, with varying levels of investment and complexity.”
France stands out as a particularly fertile market for this model. Out of 100 million parcels delivered across EU and UK via micromobility, 40 million come from France, where the project initially began as a pilot. “It seems that micromobility is an option where we have, let’s say, an easier path to operate,” Pellegrini notes.
What about long distances?
While the middle and last mile attract most of the attention, Amazon is not overlooking long-distance transport. For this segment, the company is leveraging an elegant solution: intermodal rail transport.
“A significant portion of our inventory is moved across different nodes using rail transport,” explains Pellegrini. “It’s a way to build on electrification—not on the road, but by train, which is very, very powerful. It is an efficient and highly reliable way to distribute our inventory.”
The boldest innovation in this area? The use of high-speed trains. “Last year we launched the use of TGVs,” Pellegrini says with a hint of pride. “Fast trains connecting cities in France, using available space on the TGV to move our parcels.”
A fragmented Europe in terms of infrastructure
Geographical differences play a crucial role in determining which solution works best in each market. Pellegrini notes that population density, cultural openness to innovation, and available infrastructure vary significantly across European countries.
“There are different constraints depending on the country,” he explains. “Population density differs, so the solutions we deploy also differ. There may also be varying levels of appetite depending on the country.”
Currently, Amazon is focusing its middle-mile learning efforts on the UK and Germany—two markets with distinct characteristics that will provide valuable insights for future expansion.
The focus, however, remains firmly on electric. I explicitly asked Pellegrini whether Amazon is considering alternative technologies such as hydrogen, but the answer was clear:
“Electricity is the vision we have to reach our 2040 goal. Based on what technology currently offers, it seems the most promising, and we have strong evidence that it could work.”
Not just transport
The path to zero emissions is not only about transport, but also about other impactful areas—especially packaging.
“We have initiatives such as the fact that 12% of our shipments are delivered without additional packaging,” he reveals. “Imagine that the product is robust enough to be shipped in good condition, with the customer happy to receive it without over-packaging. That 12% represents a huge saving in packaging materials and means less for customers to dispose of at home.”
There is more. Because these unpackaged products do not take up extra space, the ripple effect is significant: “Since the product doesn’t have air around it, we are also indirectly improving truck payload efficiency. That means fewer trucks on the road, contributing to our overall targets.”
Amazon has also transformed its approach to materials. “In the past, the vast majority of our packages were shipped in corrugated cardboard boxes. Now, less than 50% of our shipments use corrugated cardboard. Today it’s flexible, lightweight, not oversized—decisions always made with the goal of reducing packaging waste.”
