European Logistics Investment
Amazon Invests Over €10 Billion to Expand and Modernize European Logistics Network
Amazon announced a €10 billion investment on June 4 to expand and modernize its European logistics network. The company made the announcement at its "Delivering the Future" event in Dartford, England, signaling a major push toward faster deliveries and robotic automation, according to Reuters.
The plan includes 25,000 new jobs across Europe and the rollout of autonomous robots capable of carrying up to 400 kilograms. Amazon currently employs 230,000 people across Europe. The investment is its largest commitment to the region's logistics infrastructure to date, El Periódico reported.
Robots Replace Carts as Warehouses Go Autonomous
At the center of the plan is a new autonomous robot called Proteus. It can carry 400-kilogram carts and navigate entire warehouse floors on its own. Scott Dresser, Amazon's VP of Robotics, said at the Dartford event: "You tell it what needs to be done. It figures out the priority, the route, the timing." Full commercial deployment across European sites is projected for the first half of 2027, according to Financial News.
Amazon will also install its "STARK" tote-handling system at 15 European sites by 2027. The company says these tools are designed to take over "physically demanding tasks" to reduce worker injuries. Armin Cossmann, VP of Operations for Europe, called it a "step-change in how we support our employees and serve our customers," as reported by La Opinión de Murcia.
30-Minute Delivery Pushes Amazon Into Grocery Wars
Amazon is expanding its "Amazon Now" service — a 30-minute delivery offering — to more than 25 European cities, including Manchester and Birmingham. Stefano Perego, VP of Amazon International Operations, said the goal is to "reduce the physical burden on employees while meeting the increasing demand for sub-30-minute delivery," according to Levante EMV.
The speed push is largely a reaction to Chinese rivals like Temu, which have forced Amazon to compete on delivery time rather than price alone. Analysts say instant delivery is becoming the new battleground in European retail, where local competitors lack the robotic infrastructure to match Amazon's pace.
Unions Warn That 'New Jobs' Mask a Deeper Workforce Shift
Labor groups are not convinced by the 25,000 jobs figure. Oliver Roethig, Regional Secretary of UNI Europe, condemned Amazon's refusal to engage in collective bargaining. He said: "European competitiveness shouldn't mean that union-busting and tax-avoiding multinationals have a competitive advantage." German union Verdi and France's Solidaires have called the modernization plan a cover for "work intensification," according to Diario de Mallorca.
Internal Amazon projections, reported by El Correo Web, suggest that automation could allow the company to double its sales volume by 2033 without hiring 600,000 additional workers. Amazon has committed $1 billion globally to a "Career Choice" upskilling program. Critics point out that a retrained "Robotics Technician" at Amazon often earns the same $22 per hour as a warehouse picker, meaning higher skills don't always mean higher pay.
A $200 Billion Global Bet Built on AI and Capital
This €10 billion European commitment is part of a much larger global strategy. In February 2026, Amazon filed documents showing a $200 billion capital expenditure plan for the year, focused on AI, robotics, and data centers. Amazon's AWS cloud unit grew revenue by 28% in Q1 2026 — its fastest pace in three years — giving the company the financial firepower to fund the expansion, according to El Día.
Market analysts at Morgan Stanley note the financial logic behind replacing human labor with machines. A human warehouse worker costs around $34,000 per year to employ. A robot costs roughly $3,000 per year in maintenance and energy after the upfront investment. Amazon also has 50,000 electric delivery vans in service globally — halfway to its goal of 100,000 by 2030, as noted by La Provincia.
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