Amazon is not just powering the next generation of artificial intelligence (AI) development with Amazon Web Services (AWS); the company is also investing $4 billion to expand its rural delivery network by 2026.
According to a press release, the investment will create 100,000 jobs in small towns across the United States and improve delivery speed to 13,000 zip codes.
As part of the $4 billion investment, the company will expand its rural delivery network by adding over 200 new delivery stations.
This growth will enable Amazon to deliver one billion additional packages each year to customers, covering an area of 1.2 million square miles—comparable to the combined size of Alaska, California, and Texas.
Each new facility is expected to create an average of 170 jobs at the delivery stations, along with many additional opportunities for drivers.
The new positions include a range of full-time, part-time, and flexible roles.
Employees in full-time roles at these stations will earn an average hourly wage that is three times the federal minimum wage, plus benefits like health care starting from their first day.
Next Metropolis, a news and insights website on trends shaping the future of cities and urban development, said the expansion responds to increasing demand in regions with fewer retail outlet options.
The impact was already visible in the U.S., with same-day and next-day deliveries up over 30% year-over-year, with more than 9 billion items delivered in 2024 alone.
Next Metropolis reports that this expansion reflects Amazon’s long-term dedication to enhancing rural access to rapid e-commerce and promoting local job opportunities.
Service delivery is anticipated to improve in more than 4,000 small towns and rural areas throughout the U.S., providing fast Prime shipping to locations such as Fort Seneca, Ohio; Lewes, Delaware; and North Padre Island, Texas.
Additionally, Next Metropolis highlighted a driverless vehicle without a steering wheel, pedals, or human controls that has recently been approved for use on U.S. roads, representing a significant advancement in autonomous mobility.
Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous vehicle subsidiary, reportedly obtained a crucial exemption from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, permitting it to operate its specially designed robo taxis under the newly expanded Automated Vehicle Exemption Program.
This ruling is expected to pave the way for other U.S.-based autonomous vehicle companies to enter the market and boost America’s position in the competition for autonomous vehicle leadership.
Amazon is investing $4+ billion to expand our rural delivery network by 2026. Our investment will create 100K+ jobs in small towns across the US and faster delivery to 13K+ zip codes. Read more here: https://t.co/4qbG93g1CE pic.twitter.com/0uZUW5HYlN
— David Zapolsky (@DavidZapolsky) May 1, 2025
Amazon is making a $4 billion push to expand its Same-Day and Next-Day delivery services to over 4,000 small towns and rural communities across the U.S. This significant investment aims to triple the size of Amazon’s delivery network by 2026, bringing fast Prime shipping to areas like… pic.twitter.com/piCUpQ1NUm
— NextMetropolis (@NextMetropolis) June 26, 2025
A driverless vehicle with no steering wheel, pedals, or human controls has just been certified for U.S. roads—marking a major step forward for autonomous mobility. Zoox, the Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle (AV) company, has received a key exemption from the National Highway… pic.twitter.com/agoowU2zFt
— NextMetropolis (@NextMetropolis) August 8, 2025
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