[eMarketer] Amazon to launch drone deliveries later this year

Amazon plans to launch Prime Air drone deliveries in Lockeford, California, later this year, the company announced on its blog.

Notably, it appears to still be working on regulatory approvals as it noted, “We are working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and local officials in Lockeford to obtain permission to conduct these deliveries.”

When then-Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos in 2013 revealed the retailer’s plans to launch a fleet of drones that could deliver orders within 30 minutes of the push of the buy button, he set off a rush within his own organization—and rival companies such as Walmart—to be among the first movers in the space.

For now, the promise of drone delivery is a far cry from the reality as the technology is one of the most inefficient and costly means of delivery.