Amazon yesterday announced that it will be closing its Prime Air drone delivery program in Lockeford, California, as the company shifts its focus to other markets. The Lockeford location, which opened in 2022, was one of the first testing zones for Amazon’s drone delivery service, allowing local residents to order products weighing up to five pounds and receive them via drone in just 30 minutes.
Despite the closure of the Lockeford location, Amazon has announced that it will be launching a new Prime Air location in Tolleson, Arizona, which is expected to provide “same-day” deliveries to residents in the West Valley Phoenix metro area. The company plans to begin operations in Arizona later this year.
The press release did not provide a clear reason for the closure of the Lockeford location, but it did state that employees at the site will be offered opportunities at other sites. Amazon will continue Prime Air operations in College Station, Texas, and plans to open new locations in 2025.
The company’s latest MK30 drone, which is less heavy and can fly through light rain, is still undergoing testing. The MK30 was revealed in November 2022, after the company was reportedly hampered by other models that sometimes crashed and burned during testing. The MK30 was projected for use in operations this year.
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