Chevy BrightDrop Electric Vans to Join Walmart’s Delivery Fleet by Year-End
Walmart is set to integrate Chevy’s BrightDrop electric vans into its in-home delivery service by the end of the year, marking a significant step in the company’s electrification efforts. The retail giant will deploy 150 of the smaller BrightDrop 400 models across several key markets.
After GM restructured its electric van company, BrightDrop, and moved it under the Chevy brand in August, Walmart is among the first customers to adopt the re-branded vehicles. The company’s in-home delivery program is expanding to reach 62 million households nationwide, with the Chevy BrightDrops rolling out in Austin, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, northwest Arkansas, Orlando, and the San Francisco Bay area.
Sabin Blake, GM North American business communications director, confirmed in an email to The Verge that the 150 BrightDrop vehicles are part of this new order. These vans will initially be current model year 2024 vehicles, with later shipments featuring the new Chevy branding.
Walmart’s previous deal with BrightDrop in 2022 included a reservation for 5,000 vans, which included the larger 600 models. However, it seems Walmart is initially focusing on the smaller 400 versions. The BrightDrop 400 vehicles offer a more compact, efficient solution for last-mile delivery.
BrightDrop, formerly a wholly-owned subsidiary of GM, was projected to reach $1 billion in revenue with a 20 percent margin in 2023. The company has also developed innovative solutions, such as the Trace e-cart for easy package handling and the “Core” software suite to manage deliveries.
Despite these advancements, BrightDrop’s sales have been slow. The company sold about 500 vans in 2023 and 746 through the first six months of 2024. Now, under Chevy, BrightDrop can leverage the manufacturer’s dealer network to boost sales. BrightDrop’s vans use GM’s battery platform, formerly known as Ultium. The larger vans can travel up to 250 miles on a single charge.
