Amazon Acquires Robot Maker RIVR to Bolster Last-Mile Delivery

RIVR, formerly known as Swiss-Mile, is a startup spun out of ETH Zurich. Its robots use Physical AI and a wheeled-leg design to navigate uneven terrain and stairs. Last-mile delivery remains highly labor-intensive, and Amazon participated in RIVR’s $22.2 million seed round as early as 2024, laying the groundwork for deeper integration.

Amazon confirmed its acquisition of RIVR on March 19, 2026. Financial terms were not disclosed. Before the deal, RIVR had raised a total of $25 million and was valued at about $100 million. The company began a delivery trial with Veho in Austin, Texas, using one robot in May 2025 and had planned to expand the fleet to 100 robots in 2026. The acquisition will allow it to accelerate deployment with Amazon’s support.