GM launches new company to make electric delivery vehicles
DETROIT, MI. - General Motors has launched a new business to improve and electrify the delivery of goods and services.
GM announced BrightDrop Tuesday, a company that will offer an ecosystem of electric products, software, and services to delivery and logistics companies.
According to the release, BrightDrop solutions are designed to help businesses lower costs, maximize productivity, improve employee and freight safety and security, and support sustainability efforts.
"BrightDrop offers a smarter way to deliver goods and services," said Mary Barra, GM Chairman, and CEO. "We are building on our significant expertise in electrification, mobility applications, telematics and fleet management, with a new one-stop-shop solution for commercial customers to move goods in a better, more sustainable way."
GM says estimates that the combined market opportunity for parcel, food delivery, and reverse logistics in the U.S. will be over $850 billion by 2025.
The World Economic Forum says demand for urban last-mile delivery is expected to grow by 78% by 2030, leading to a 36% increase in delivery vehicles in top cities.
BrightDrop's first product is called EP1, a propulsion-assisted electric pallet designed to move goods for short distances that will be available in early 2021.
BrightDrop has completed an EP1 pilot with FedEx Express and plans to test further products with the company, including the EV600, an electric light commercial vehicle that will be on roads in late 2021.
21 News reached out to GM about BrightDrop manufacturing sites' possible locations, but officials say they can not confirm any locations at this time.
