Amazon to Invest $1.9 Billion More in Delivery Partners for Higher Pay

Amazon announced at its Ignite Live DSP conference in Las Vegas on Sept. 21, 2026, that it will put another $1.9 billion into the Delivery Service Partner program in 2027, bringing total program investment to $21.7 billion over eight years. The company said it anticipates helping independent DSPs lift national average driver pay by roughly another $1 to nearly $24 an hour after a reported 16% average rise over three years, while stating that each DSP decides how to invest and sets pay as the employer. Amazon also cited more than $543 million in safety spending since 2022 and a 23% decline in serious vehicle crashes last year, plus surround-view cameras planned for half of Rivian delivery vans, Wellspring AI mapping of parking spots and entrances, AI routing, and more than 20,000 Smart Delivery Glasses by end of 2027, alongside $70 million over five years for DSP-led community efforts. Beryl Tomay called the aim “the safest delivery network in the world” and pointed to “hardware and AI-backed software systems.” Amazon’s written statement said specifics will vary by DSP and geography. Outlets differed mainly on emphasis: TNW underscored that Amazon does not set wages and that the variability caveat sits below the pay headline, while other coverage led with the investment, AI safety tools, and pay target. Absolute crash counts, pay floors, driver headcount, and device data retention were not detailed in the release.