Lyon, France, July 2, 2026 – E-commerce giant Amazon officially inaugurated a new distribution center near Lyon, one of the largest in France, with a promise of 3,000 jobs by the end of 2027. The facility, built on 30 hectares in Colombier-Saugnieu, close to Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport, was completed in June after 20 months of construction. It boasts a ground area of 60,000 square meters, expanding to 180,000 square meters across three levels.
Amazon’s Ninth French Distribution Center
This new center is Amazon’s second distribution hub in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, following the one opened in Montélimar, Drôme, in 2010. It also marks the ninth such facility in France over the past 25 years, underscoring Amazon’s continued expansion in the country.
Earlier in May, Jeff Bezos’s company announced an investment plan exceeding 15 billion euros in France over three years (2026-2028). According to an Amazon statement, this represents “the company’s largest investment in the country to date.”
“The Colombier site is the first tangible result of this commitment, with 200 million euros in investment and 3,000 jobs in sight,” stated Patrick Labarre, President of Amazon France Logistique, to AFP. He was joined at the inauguration by several local elected officials and Jean-Baptiste Thomas, General Manager of Amazon France.
Job Creation and Advanced Robotics
According to Labarre, 1,000 employees are already working at the site. The company plans to increase this number to 1,500 by the end of the current year, with a goal of reaching 3,000 employees by 2027. This significant job creation is expected to provide a substantial boost to the local economy.
Pierre-Louis Debroise, the director of the Colombier-Saugnieu site, informed the press that the facility incorporates nearly 4,000 robots. These robots are responsible for moving approximately 40,000 storage shelves, streamlining the logistics process. Following this automated handling, employees then “pick items, pack merchandise, and ship parcels,” Debroise explained, highlighting the blend of advanced technology and human labor.
Local Impact and Past Challenges
Sandrine Auquier, the mayor (SE) of Colombier-Saugnieu, expressed enthusiasm for the new center, stating, “Fiscally, it will bring us a lot of things.” The economic benefits for the local municipality are anticipated to be considerable, including increased tax revenues and local employment opportunities.
The project, however, did not proceed without challenges. Between 2018 and 2023, it faced several legal appeals, notably from Acenas (Association against the extension and nuisances of Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport) and the environmental association Fracture. These legal actions ultimately proved unsuccessful, allowing the construction and opening of the distribution center to proceed.
Amazon France currently employs over 25,000 permanent staff, with a portion of these working for Amazon France Logistique, further emphasizing the company’s substantial presence and employment impact across the country.
This new facility underscores Amazon’s strategic expansion in France, combining significant investment with advanced logistical solutions and substantial job creation, despite facing environmental and local opposition during its development phase.
