DHL pilot program to deliver direct to cars

The car drop delivery service, developed jointly by DHL Parcel, Amazon and Audi, is the first of its kind in Germany.    DHL Parcel, Amazon and Audi will team up in May 2015 to launch new pilot program to deliver parcels directly to customers’ cars in Germany. According to a statement from DHL, the program is the first to allow shippers to use their cars as mobile delivery addresses.
   The three companies partnered to develop the new shipping solution for car trunk delivery to ensure high security standards for both merchandise and the automobiles. DHL said the service is designed to be simple, transparent and easily managed “from order placement on Amazon.de, parcel transport by DHL, to delivery to the trunk of their Audi.”
   Over the next several months, select DHL customers registered by Audi in the greater Munich area will have the opportunity to test the new delivery solution.
   Using a specially developed smart phone app, a DHL delivery agent will the exact location of the car and be able to access the vehicle’s trunk. Once the agent has placed the parcel in the trunk and closed its door, the car will then be locked automatically, and DHL will be sent a delivery confirmation via the app, which will then send a confirmation e-mail to the car owner.
   DHL expects the program to be especially attractive to commuters. 
   “As an innovation leader in the parcel industry, we continually work with our partners to develop innovative solutions for the ever-growing number of parcel customers, and to set new trends,” Jürgen Gerdes, Post – eCommerce – Parcel division board member, said in a statement. “This pilot project for car trunk delivery for private customers is unique in the German parcel industry; it demonstrates once again our market and innovation leadership as well as our commitment to parcel delivery services tailored more and more to the individual needs of our customers.”