Swedish electric vehicle startup Einride is significantly expanding its U.S. footprint by deploying 75 manually operated, heavy-duty electric trucks into Amazon’s Relay freight network. This strategic move, ahead of a planned public offering, underscores Amazon’s commitment to electrifying its vast logistics operations and extending zero-emission technology beyond last-mile delivery.
These Einride trucks will bolster Amazon’s middle-mile network, a critical component of its Relay platform. Launched in 2017, Amazon Relay functions as an Uber-like application for truck drivers, facilitating the booking and transportation of Amazon loads between fulfillment centers, sortation hubs, air cargo facilities, and final delivery stations. The integration of Einride’s electric fleet is projected to contribute up to three million miles of electric transport annually, entirely free of tailpipe emissions. Einride will also establish and manage charging infrastructure across five key locations, leveraging its proprietary AI-powered optimization software, Saga, to manage electric vehicle operations, including sophisticated charging planning.
“This partnership with Amazon serves as a powerful validation of Einride’s technology and our strategic vision,” stated Einride CEO Roozbeh Charli. “By integrating our intelligent platform within one of the world’s most advanced logistics networks, we are not only accelerating our growth but also solidifying our position as an industry leader in operational expertise for electric freight.”
Einride’s consistent innovation has earned it a place on the prestigious CNBC Disruptor 50 list for three consecutive years, ranking 24th in 2025. This collaboration with Amazon is a significant step in the e-commerce giant’s multi-year strategy to build and electrify an end-to-end logistics network. As of mid-2025, Amazon operated over 70,000 trailers within its extensive fleet.
Amazon’s electrification journey has seen notable investments, including a substantial deal with Rivian in 2019, which included an equity investment and an order for 100,000 electric delivery vehicles by 2030. More recently, Amazon Europe announced its largest-ever order for electric heavy-duty trucks, with 200 units from Mercedes. In 2024, Amazon deployed its then-largest U.S. heavy-duty EV fleet, comprising 50 Volvo trucks, specifically for operations connected to the Southern California ports.
“This deployment marks a crucial advancement in tackling the complexities of decarbonizing our transportation network, particularly in electrifying heavy-duty trucking,” commented an Amazon spokesperson regarding the Einride agreement. “We are eager to continue our collaboration with Einride and glean valuable insights from these operations as the trucks commence service.”
While the current Amazon agreement focuses on manually operated vehicles, 2026 is poised to be a pivotal year for Einride and its competitors, such as Waabi, Aurora Innovation, and Kodiak AI, as they push forward with autonomous trucking operations in the U.S.
Einride has already secured approval from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to operate its autonomous vehicles on public roads in Texas, marking its fifth U.S. state for such operations. This move towards driverless trucks in Austin, Texas, follows similar regulatory approvals in Arizona, Colorado, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Einride currently operates the first daily commercial autonomous route for GE Appliances in Selmer, Tennessee, where GE manufactures refrigerators. However, the company views Texas as a “core hub for our American autonomous freight operations,” according to Charli.
The company has also announced its intention to go public through a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) merger with Legato Merger Corp. III, a deal expected to raise over $300 million in the first half of the year. Further bolstering its leadership and strategic reach, Einride recently welcomed Keith B. Alexander, a former NSA Director General and Amazon board member, to its board of directors, signaling an interest in expanding its presence within the defense sector.
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