As part of its “Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) Prototype awards,” the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) selected AM General's designs for advanced postal vehicles. The awards were in support of the service's plans and need for the replacement of their aging fleet.
AM General will build a series of prototype vehicles for testing by the USPS that seek to provide fuel efficiency and zero emission capability.
The USPS is experiencing significant changes in delivery operations. Double-digit growth in shipping and packaging services is driving new opportunities—and new challenges—for the Postal Service. With the dramatic growth in online shopping and e-commerce, the number of packages delivered by the USPS has grown from 3.7 billion pieces in 2013 to 4.5 billion in 2015.
The AM General advanced postal vehicle is designed to grow with the new demands in delivery on the postal service and ensure that the USPS can manage the changing mail mix with improvements in safety, efficiency, reliability and flexibility.
AM General is combining highly reliable, low maintenance, fuel-saving powertrain options and advanced safety systems into a durable, low operating-cost vehicle. The series of innovations include the following:
• Light weight, fuel efficient vehicle technologies
• Advanced Powertrain with system options
• Substantial emissions decreases with a zero emissions option
• Next-generation safety systems that provide safe vehicles for letter carriers
• Reduced maintenance schedule with less complex repairs yields savings
• 20+ year body durability for long life
Design and development for the postal vehicle will be conducted at AM General's Center for Advanced Automotive Design in Livonia, Michigan.
The contract award from the Postal Service is part of the USPS Next Generation Delivery Vehicle program, under which several prototype designs will be designed, built and tested over an 18-month period. Production requirements and future vehicle replacement award(s) will be determined by the Postal Service after NGDV Prototype testing.
AM General designs, engineers, manufactures, supplies and supports specialized vehicles for military and commercial customers worldwide.
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