In January of 2015 the United States Postal Service began the process of searching for the designers and manufacturer of the Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDV). Following the initial announcement 15 suppliers were selected to submit proposals to develop prototypes. On September 17, the USPS announced the next phase of the process, with the selection of six prime suppliers from the original 15. These six suppliers will together produce 50 prototype vehicles.
The six selected suppliers are AM General, Karsan, Mahindra, Oshkosh, Utilimaster, and VT Hackney. They will have approximately one year to develop and produce the prototypes, which will include hybrid and alternative fuel capabilities.
The USPS will also be issuing an RFP for commercial off-the-shelf, right-hand drive vehicles.
The Postal Service’s stated goal is “…to obtain vehicles that will help us provide reliable and efficient delivery service for customers and honor our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of our fleet, while meeting the needs of our employees to best do their jobs safely.”