Amazon Explores Use Of Taxis For Speedy Package Delivery

Amazon has partnered with the taxi-hailing app Flywheel to test package delivery in some markets.

Amazon conducted tests this fall in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and is now considering broader use of taxis, according to the Wall Street Journal, which quoted people who spoke under the condition of anonymity.

The experiments really shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Amazon has already inked an extensive partnership with the U.S. Postal Service to deliver packages on Sunday, and now also, groceries in some markets.

Likewise, the concept is already being vetted by Uber, the burgeoning transportation startup app.

Amazon will need as many methods as possible to make the dream of one-hour deliveries a reality. We’re also seeing plenty of startups like Deliv and Postmates offering retailers and consumers ways to get whatever they need quickly (often within an hour). It’s also competing with Google and eBay when it comes to same-day deliveries. And I am sure Amazon is paying close attention to the mistakes of its competitors, given that eBay’s entry is essentially dead.

Source: Wall Street Journal