Amazon acquires Swiss robotics company Rivr to test robots for doorstep delivery

Amazon has acquired Swiss robotics company Rivr to strengthen its doorstep delivery capabilities.

The acquisition took place earlier this week. However, the terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

The development comes months after Amazon said in October that it had deployed more than one million robots across its operations network.


The Information was the first to report the deal.

The move is aimed at expanding Amazon’s investment in research, with a focus on improving safety for delivery workers and enhancing the overall customer experience, a company spokesperson told CNBC.

The announcement was communicated through a notice sent to third-party delivery contractors, CNBC reported.

Inside Rivr’s technology

Zurich-based autonomous robotics startup Rivr has developed a four-legged robot mounted on wheels.

Rivr cofounder and CEO Marko Bjelonic previously described it as a “dog on roller skates.”

Prior to the acquisition, Amazon had participated in Rivr’s 2024 seed funding round through its Industrial Innovation Fund, according to PitchBook.

Rivr has raised a total of $25 million and was last valued at around $100 million, TechCrunch reported.

Amazon’s delivery process

Amazon relies on third-party contractors to handle package deliveries.

These contractors are responsible for the “last mile," transporting packages from Amazon warehouses to customers’ doorsteps.

With the acquisition of Rivr, Amazon is looking to accelerate the deployment of AI and robotics in real-world delivery scenarios at scale, according to Bjelonic.

Amazon Robotics, the company’s unit dedicated to innovation, was established after it acquired Kiva Systems for $775 million in 2012. Kiva Systems manufactures warehouse robots.

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