Amazon's Project Mercury Aims to Deliver Same-Day Packages to 80% of US Prime Subscribers

Amazon is gearing up to significantly expand its same-day delivery network through an initiative called Project Mercury. The goal is to have more than 1,000 dedicated facilities by 2031, compared to around 85 today. This would put Amazon's fulfillment infrastructure within a 10-mile straight-line radius of 80% of US Prime subscribers.

The expansion could give Amazon a significant speed advantage over competitors like Walmart and DoorDash, but it also raises questions about the cost and whether faster delivery can generate sufficient returns. The project is expected to allocate $6.8 billion towards US same-day capacity during 2026 and 2027.

Internal analysis estimates that Project Mercury could generate $7.1 billion in economic value over a decade and become cash-flow positive by 2030. However, Amazon's spokesperson cautioned that internal forecasts are 'preliminary, subject to significant revision, and shouldn't be treated as finalized plans.'