Story perspectives

Amazon Acquires RIVR to Boost Delivery Robotics

3/20/2026

46 5

Summary

Story summary

Amazon has acquired RIVR, a Swiss robotics company, on March 19, to enhance delivery safety and efficiency.
RIVR develops wheeled-legged robots for doorstep delivery and navigates stairs and uneven terrain.
Marko Bjelonic, CEO of RIVR, expressed excitement about integrating the technology into Amazon's operations.
RIVR has begun deploying its robots in Austin, Texas, to meet growing eCommerce logistics demands.
Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.

History

Historical Context

Amazon, founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994, initially focused on online book sales before diversifying into various sectors, including cloud computing and groceries. By 2013, the company launched Prime Air to deliver packages via drones, investing over $1.5 billion in logistics technology. This reflects Amazon's ongoing commitment to innovation and efficiency in response to the growing eCommerce market, which saw $386 billion in U.S. retail sales in 2020.

1 of 2

Story summary

Amazon has acquired RIVR, a Swiss robotics company, on March 19, to enhance delivery safety and efficiency.
RIVR develops wheeled-legged robots for doorstep delivery and navigates stairs and uneven terrain.
Marko Bjelonic, CEO of RIVR, expressed excitement about integrating the technology into Amazon's operations.
RIVR has begun deploying its robots in Austin, Texas, to meet growing eCommerce logistics demands.
Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.

1 / 2