Amazon is taking its shipping methods to the next level, and this time it means a more direct service for you consumer needs. Amazon has purchased over 20,000 new delivery vans from Mercedes Benz, and plan to implement a new strategy in customer service. Instead of allowing the usual carrier services to ship your favorite amazon purchases, the company will use their own vans to deliver your packages. Amazon consumers can now expect to see an amazon van dropping off their packages to their front door. This initiative puts Amazon in the best position to help small business owners lease vans for deliveries through amazon at a discount rate.

Mercedes Benz on Wednesday opened a new plant in North Charleston S.C investing $500,000 into the new project. The German car maker will begin the roll out of the Mercedes Benz Sprinter Vans and with 20,000 vans already ordered, Amazon will be the largest purchasers of that model to date. The delivery service partner program between the two titans of industry adds both value to the economy with new jobs, and also allows for Amazon to branch into more delivery ventures’ The company’s new system of delivery will help rely less on shipping companies such as FedEx and UPS giving Amazon more room to improve its customer service.

Amazon Flex is an already functioning initiative that uses people to make deliveries for the company with their own personal vehicles. Entrepreneurs and small business owners will now be able to lease these vans for third party fleet management companies which will offer assistance in keeping costs low for business owners. The vans will be used to deliver everything from online packages, groceries, and even meals from local restaurants. Amazon hopes that its investment of $1.5 million into this project will help them better serve their customers’ needs.