Japanese delivery giant Yamato has partnered with UK all-electric delivery startup Hived to advance sustainable and tech-driven logistics.

Yamato and Hived will work together to advance sustainable and tech-driven logistics

The agreement will see the two firms work together to deliver new innovations across both the UK and Japan. As part of the agreement, Yamato will invest £2m in Hived.

Founded in 2021, Hived has quickly established itself as a leader in sustainable, technology-driven parcel delivery solutions, tailored to the rapidly growing e-commerce industry.

Its fleet is fully electric across the middle- and last-mile, and is used by customers including Nespresso, Zara, John Lewis and Uniqlo.

Yamato, which commands 47% of Japan’s logistics market and handles over 2.3 billion parcels annually, delivers innovative use of technology to enhance efficiency and customer satisfaction.

The partnership will bring together Yamato’s experience in operational excellence and customer satisfaction, with Hived’s sustainable logistics, as well as data and tech-driven innovations.

Murvah Iqbal, CEO and co-founder of Hived, said: “This partnership represents a game changing moment for Hived. As a world-leader in logistics, Yamato brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will accelerate our growth and improve our operations. We are excited about what the future holds as, together, we seek to push the boundaries of what modern delivery services can offer.”

Yasuhiro Saito, head of innovation and investment at Yamato Holdings, continued: “We are excited to partner with and invest in Hived, recognising the future potential of its delivery network centred on digital and electric vehicle solutions. We believe Hived’s model will offer customers new value and a transformative delivery experience. As partners, we aim to collaborate closely, exchanging business insights to drive growth together.”