In a significant milestone for General Motors’ (GM) all-electric last-mile delivery unit, BrightDrop, the company is venturing beyond the borders of the United States and expanding its operations into Canada. FedEx, one of BrightDrop’s earliest and largest customers, will introduce an initial fleet of electric vehicles across major metropolitan areas in Canada, marking BrightDrop’s entry into the Canadian market.
BrightDrop, established by GM in early 2021, focuses on developing electric light commercial vehicles (eLCVs) for efficient last-mile deliveries, electric smart containers, and cloud-based software solutions. Currently, its product lineup consists of three offerings: Zevo 600 and Zevo 400 delivery vans, along with the Trace electric storage cart.
During the launch of the division two and a half years ago, GM CEO Mary Barra had already announced FedEx as the first customer, having committed to purchasing the first 500 electric vans off the assembly line. Starting with an initial delivery of 150 vans in the US in December 2021, FedEx subsequently placed an order for an additional 1,500 vans in early 2022.
Following the division’s introduction, GM invested CAD 1 billion (~$800 million) to convert its CAMI manufacturing plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, into an assembly facility for the Zevo delivery vans. Production commenced in Canada last December, with the initial focus on the Zevo 600 and subsequent plans to produce the Zevo 400.
Today, BrightDrop’s pioneering electric last-mile delivery vans, manufactured alongside Canadian partners, are being delivered and put into operation by FedEx, marking the company’s first customer deployment in Canada.
In a press release, FedEx shared details of its all-electric deployment, which involves deploying 50 Zevo 600 vans from BrightDrop to service Toronto, Montreal, and Surrey. These electric vehicles in Canada will join the existing fleet of 400 BrightDrop vans already operational in Southern California. FedEx has committed to integrating a total of 2,500 BrightDrop EVs into its North American fleet in the coming years, demonstrating the company’s dedication to sustainability.
Steve Hornyak, BrightDrop’s chief commercial officer, acknowledged FedEx’s pivotal role in reducing carbon emissions for deliveries. As the first customer to deploy BrightDrop’s vehicles in the US and Canada, FedEx sets an example for achieving ambitious sustainability goals and improving the communities in which they operate.
FedEx Express Canada revealed that the initial deployment of BrightDrop vans aligns with the company’s overarching objective of achieving carbon-neutral global operations by 2040. Furthermore, FedEx aims to have 50% of its global vehicle purchases be electric by 2025 and reach 100% by 2030.
With FedEx’s collaboration and commitment to sustainable practices, the introduction of BrightDrop’s electric vans in Canada represents a significant step towards greener and more efficient last-mile deliveries, contributing to a more sustainable future in the logistics industry.
