Logistics Revolution Redefines Urban-Rural Delivery Landscape
Amazon is rewriting the “urban-rural delivery gap” in U.S. retail through an unprecedented logistics network revolution. The expansion plan announced by this e-commerce giant on July 18 is not only an extension of its business territory but also a sign of e-commerce services’ in-depth penetration from cities to vast rural areas.
Impressive Current Delivery Performance and Sinking Market Plans
Amazon has already delivered a standout report on its 2025 delivery performance: as of June, the volume of same-day or next-day delivered items in the U.S. surged by over 30% year-on-year. Consumers in more than 140 cities have long grown accustomed to receiving daily necessities like skincare products and household items within hours of placing an order. However, the real breakthrough is that this “speed dividend” is rapidly spreading to small towns. According to plans, over 4,000 small cities, towns, and rural areas will be included in the same-day and next-day delivery network by the end of 2025, allowing tens of millions of previously overlooked users in sinking markets to experience e-commerce efficiency and convenience for the first time.
Massive Investment Supports Logistics Network Expansion
Underpinning this expansion is Amazon’s heavy investment in logistics infrastructure. A dedicated fund of $4 billion, earmarked by the end of 2026, will focus on upgrading the “capillary” network of rural delivery systems: new delivery facilities will fill geographical gaps, while existing sites will be upgraded into multi-functional service centers integrating inventory storage and rapid sorting. This “forward warehouse + localized operation” model will turn “same-day delivery within hours” from an urban privilege into a rural norm, ultimately tripling the scale of the rural delivery network.
Far-Reaching Impact of the Transformation and Industry Upgrading
The impact of this transformation will spread across 1.2 million square miles of U.S. land. Consumers in over 13,000 zip code areas will see 1 billion more packages arrive at their doorsteps faster each year. Prime members will feel the change most directly—from sunny coasts to the edge of the Arctic Circle, average package delivery times will be cut in half. As e-commerce competition shifts from “who sells more” to “who delivers faster and wider,” Amazon’s sinking market layout not only strengthens its own advantages but also implicitly raises industry service standards.
Question: What are Amazon’s short-term and long-term plans for the coverage of its delivery services?
Answer: In the short term (by the end of 2025), it plans to expand same-day and next-day delivery services to more than 4,000 small cities, towns and rural areas in the United States. In the long term (after the completion of logistics network construction by the end of 2026), the coverage will be further expanded to over 13,000 zip code areas (1.2 million square miles) in the United States. Prime members in many places, from Milton, Florida to North Pole, Alaska, will benefit from this.
Question: What specific measures will Amazon take to improve delivery efficiency in rural areas?
Answer: Amazon plans to invest more than 4 billion US dollars by the end of 2026, with a focus on building rural logistics networks. Specific measures include opening new delivery facilities and transforming existing rural delivery stations into service centers with functions such as inventory storage. Eventually, the scale of the rural delivery network will be tripled to achieve delivery within a few hours.
Question: What changes will occur in the number of packages delivered and delivery speed after the expansion of Amazon’s delivery services?
Answer: In terms of the number of packages delivered, more than 1 billion additional packages will be delivered to target areas every year. In terms of delivery speed, by the end of 2026, the average delivery time of packages for Prime members in relevant areas will be cut in half, and the overall delivery efficiency will be significantly improved.
Earlier reports indicated that Amazon’s “Amazon Now” service was launched in New Delhi, India.
