GM’s BrightDrop secures order for 12,600 electric vans

BrightDrop, the electric commercial vehicle division General Motors unveiled last month, has secured an order to build 12,600 electric delivery vans for New Hampshire-based Merchant Fleets.

GM launched BrightDrop in January with FedEx as its first customer. BrightDrop promises to develop a complete range of first to last mile delivery solutions, including commercial vehicles, software and services.

"Merchants Fleet's move to add such a large number of BrightDrop EV600s to their portfolio signals their strong commitment to accelerate the electric fleet movement, and their belief that BrightDrop solutions will help them and their clients achieve a greener and more efficient future," BrightDrop CEO Travis Katz said in a statement.

Brendan Keegan, CEO of Merchants Fleet, said: "Merchants Fleet is fully committed to the future of electrification and working to add BrightDrop EV600s to our clients' fleets is an exciting part of our broader strategy."

Merchants Fleet aims to electrify half of its mobility fleet portfolio by 2025 and half of its managed fleet portfolio by 2030.

The Merchant Fleet order is also significantly larger than the FedEx order for 500 vans.

GM’s ambitions for BrightDrop are part of a larger electrification push. At the end of January, GM said it plans to electrify its entire line-up by 2035 as part of a commitment to be carbon neutral by 2040.

Image copyright: BrightDrop