SEATTLE, Washington: Amazon.com is ramping up its delivery game in rural America, announcing a US$4 billion investment to grow its logistics footprint and reach more consumers in small towns and remote areas by the end of 2026.

The expansion will boost Amazon's rural delivery network to over 200 delivery stations and generate 100,000 new jobs, the company said in a statement. Amazon is already one of the largest private employers in the U.S.

Faster shipping remains central to Amazon's growth strategy. By investing heavily in logistics, Amazon continues to outpace rivals like Walmart and Target.

"Once the expansion is complete, our network will be able to deliver over a billion more packages each year to customers living in over 13,000 zip codes spanning 1,200,000 square miles," Amazon said.

Shares rose three percent in extended trading ahead of the earnings report on May 1, lifted by strong results from Meta and Microsoft.

Amazon added that the move would triple the size of its rural network and slash average delivery times "in half."

Each new facility is expected to create around 170 jobs, according to company estimates.

Earlier in April, Bloomberg News reported Amazon was weighing a $15 billion warehouse expansion plan that could add around 80 new logistics sites across U.S. cities and rural regions.