Unilever, Union Coop expand electric trucking

Unilever and Union Coop have started using an electric truck for deliveries between Unilever’s warehouse and Union Coop’s distribution centre in the UAE. The truck is expected to save 8,900 litres of fuel and reduce about 23.9 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year. The route will later be extended to selected retail stores.

The deployment is aimed at testing electric transport in daily FMCG distribution, where high loads, regular routes and reliable delivery times are important. The truck has a capacity of 25 tonnes or 26 standard pallets and can travel about 375 kilometres on one charge.

Ahmed Kadous, Vice President - Customer Operations, Unilever GCC, Turkey, Pakistan & Bangladesh said: “Building a lower-carbon supply chain requires collaboration across the entire value chain. The transition cannot be driven through one large move. However, we believe that it can be built route by route, with partners who are willing to test, learn and improve. As we continue to expand our zero-emission logistics footprint, we remain committed to supporting the UAE’s sustainability ambitions while serving consumers efficiently and responsibly.” 

The new route will also give both companies data on charging, route planning, loading and vehicle use. This can help assess where electric trucks can be used in regular distribution without affecting delivery operations.

The move builds on Unilever’s earlier use of electric vehicles in the UAE. Its electric van and heavy-duty electric truck have together saved 98,500 litres of fuel and reduced about 257 tonnes of CO₂. The latest deployment adds another fixed delivery route for electric freight vehicles and could provide useful experience for wider fleet electrification in UAE logistics.