Amazon set to expand drone delivery of lightweight packages to 500 US cities

Millions more individuals may be able to secure smaller, lightweight Amazon packages delivered by drones by the end of the year under a plan the firm unveiled Wednesday to expand the airborne shipping to suburban areas in almost 500 U.S.

Key points

• Customers could receive the drone deliveries in as fast as 30 minutes, Amazon remarked in a news release.
• AP AUDIO: Amazon set to expand drone delivery of lightweight packages to 500 US cities.
• The plan will intensify the battle between Amazon and Walmart to provide consumers with the fastest delivery times.
• But instead, these firms are using drones as one tool to assist keep customers happy with quicker deliveries, banking on a faster delivery system attracting more shoppers.
• Amazon intends to offer drone deliveries to millions more residents this year.

Customers could receive the drone deliveries in as fast as 30 minutes, Amazon remarked in a news release. The drones can carry packages up to 5 pounds.

Meanwhile, the plan will intensify the battle between Amazon and Walmart to provide consumers with the fastest delivery times. Both giants rely on a mix of drones and drivers to deliver everything consumers have ordered.

In practice, the goal is not necessarily regarding cutting costs by replacing drivers and trucks – and drones that can only carry one package at a time would have a hard time doing that. But instead, these firms are using drones as one tool to assist keep customers happy with quicker deliveries, banking on a faster delivery system attracting more shoppers.

Amazon intends to offer drone deliveries to millions more residents this year. AP correspondent Lisa Dwyer has the story.

For now, amazon set to expand drone delivery of lightweight packages to 500 US remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.