Amazon acquires Rivr to deploy stair-climbing delivery robots for doorstep logistics

Amazon Acquisition Brings Stair-Climbing Delivery Robot to Doorsteps

Amazon has acquired Rivr, a Swiss robotics company developing four-legged delivery machines capable of climbing stairs and navigating complex urban environments 1

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. The deal, which closed earlier this week, wasn't publicly announced but was confirmed through a notice sent to third-party delivery contractors 2

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. Financial terms remain undisclosed, though Rivr was last valued at $100 million after raising a total of $25 million, including a $22.2 million seed round in 2024 that included investments from Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund and Bezos Expeditions 1

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Rivr co-founder and CEO Marko Bjelonic announced the Amazon acquisition on LinkedIn, stating it will "accelerate our vision of building General Physical AI through doorstep delivery, bringing robotics and AI closer to real-world deployment at scale" 1

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. The Zurich-based startup, formerly known as Swiss-Mile before rebranding in March 2025, has been developing autonomous logistics workflows designed to tackle the most challenging aspects of last-mile delivery 5

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How the Stair-Climbing Delivery Robot Works

The Rivr Two delivery robot combines wheels and legs in what Bjelonic once described as a "dog on roller skates" 1

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. This hybrid design allows the four-legged delivery machines to roll efficiently on flat surfaces while deploying legs to climb stairs, open gates, and navigate obstacles that typically challenge traditional wheeled robots 4

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. The robot can carry more than 60 pounds of parcels or food in an internal compartment and travels at speeds up to 8.7 miles per hour—roughly twice the pace of a walking person 3

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Safety features include lights for visibility, instant stopping capabilities when approaching objects, and a physical deactivation button 3

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. The robot can stop at red lights and navigate complex urban environments autonomously, making it suitable for doorstep delivery solutions in dense residential areas where e-commerce demand continues to surge.

Real-World Testing and Deployment Plans

Rivr launched a pilot program in Austin last year through a partnership with Veho, a package delivery company 1

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. At the time, Bjelonic hoped to scale to 100 bots by 2026, though it remains unclear whether that milestone was achieved before the Amazon acquisition 1

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. Amazon plans to test the technology with its network of thousands of third-party contractors who deliver packages exclusively for Amazon from warehouses to customers 2

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In its notice to delivery contractors, Amazon stated: "We are in the early stages of this journey, and as we progress, we will engage you and our teams to help us field test this technology, gathering real-world insights and incorporating your feedback into how we scale this technology in the future" 3

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. The company emphasized that Rivr's technology will help delivery associates "carry packages from delivery vehicles to customer doorsteps" and has "the potential to further improve safety outcomes and the overall customer experience, particularly in the last steps of the delivery process" 2

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AI-Driven Robots and Broader Automation Strategy

Rivr's AI-driven robots use a training framework that combines supervised and unsupervised learning methods, allowing the technology to adapt to different robot form factors 3

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. During one internal project, the company adapted its software to a new robot design in just one week, suggesting potential applications across Amazon's supply chain beyond last-mile delivery 3

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. Amazon currently operates more than 1 million warehouse robots and deployed its millionth robot last summer 3

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The acquisition follows Amazon's broader push into automation and robotics. In 2020, the tech giant acquired self-driving vehicle startup Zoox Inc. for $1.2 billion and is currently testing Zoox-powered SUVs in multiple cities 3

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. Amazon could potentially combine self-driving delivery vans with Rivr delivery robot technology to create fully autonomous logistics workflows from warehouse to doorstep. This move comes as Amazon laid off 16,000 white-collar workers in January and cut 100 jobs in March in its robotics division, while CEO Andy Jassy stated the company is pursuing artificial intelligence "in virtually every corner of the company" 2

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An Amazon spokesperson told CNBC that the deal "reflects our commitment to a continued investment in research" and efforts to improve safety for delivery employees 2

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. As e-commerce volumes continue growing and logistics becomes increasingly complex, automating delivery operations represents a strategic priority for maintaining customer experience while managing costs across the supply chain.