Amazon Acquires Rivr for Last-Mile Delivery Robots

Amazon has acquired Rivr, a Zurich-based startup specializing in autonomous robotics for last-mile package delivery, in a move aimed at enhancing doorstep logistics. The ecommerce giant announced the deal this week to its third-party delivery contractors, though financial terms were not disclosed. Rivr, valued at around 110 million dollars in a 2024 funding round, develops four-legged robots equipped with wheels that enable them to navigate stairs and uneven terrain.

The acquisition builds on Amazon's prior involvement with Rivr. In August 2024, the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund and Bezos Expeditions participated in the startup's 22.2 million dollar seed round, contributing to Rivr's total funding of 25 million dollars. Rivr's robots, often described by its CEO and cofounder Marko Bjelonic as resembling "a dog on roller skates," combine mobility on flat surfaces with the ability to climb obstacles, addressing challenges in urban deliveries. The company recently unveiled a second-generation version of the technology.

In a notice to contractors, Amazon stated that the technology "has the potential to further improve safety outcomes and the overall customer experience,...