ANC Delivers has reached a major milestone on its sustainability journey, with more than 100 electric vehicles now operating in its fleet by World EV Day 2025. For CEO Joe Sofra, the achievement is both a proud moment and a reminder of the bold step the company took back in 2019 when it partnered with IKEA to commit to 100% zero-emission home deliveries by 2025.
“Sometimes we have to remind ourselves to step back and reflect on milestones,” Sofra told the Fleet News Group podcast. “Reaching over 100 vehicles on the road is significant, but it’s also a signal of how far the technology and our own business model have evolved in just a few years.”
A 100-Year History of Innovation
ANC’s story stretches back more than a century, starting with bicycle couriers delivering theatre tickets in Sydney. According to Sofra, that spirit of adaptability is part of the company’s DNA.
“We’ve always evolved with the times,” he said. “From delivering theatre tickets on bikes to flat-pack furniture in electric trucks – that ability to innovate is what connects our history to the present.”
The Bold Step in 2019
When IKEA announced its global ambition to achieve 100% zero-emission home deliveries by 2025, ANC was among the first to commit locally. Sofra recalls the early days as both exciting and daunting.
“In all honesty, it was a little bit scary at the time,” he admitted. “The first three trucks we bought were really first-generation vehicles – converted diesels – and we had to work through issues like range anxiety, charging, and familiarisation for our delivery professionals. But it was a critically important learning phase.”
Embedding Sustainability Into Strategy
By 2022, ANC had launched its own zero-emission delivery plan, formally integrating sustainability into its core strategy. Sofra said the push was driven by three forces: corporate responsibility, client partnerships, and consumer demand.
“As an operator of a fleet, we’re a significant carbon emitter – we had to take responsibility,” he explained. “But equally, our partners like IKEA and Temple & Webster wanted to move in the same direction. Most importantly, customers themselves are now expecting greener outcomes – and when an electric vehicle pulls into their driveway, it makes a difference to their purchasing experience.”
A Better Experience for Customers and Drivers
ANC’s electric fleet is more than just an emissions reduction initiative – it’s reshaping the delivery experience.
“A diesel truck is noisy and disruptive. An EV is the exact opposite – it’s quieter, cleaner, and creates a different reaction when it arrives,” Sofra said. “It also makes a difference for our delivery professionals. They’ve told us how much better it is to work in a quieter cab all day. It’s less stressful, and it makes them more effective.”
Overcoming the Challenges
Electrifying a contractor-based fleet model has not been without challenges. Sofra noted that ANC had to work closely with OEMs, contractors, and partners to ensure vehicles were truly fit for purpose.
“We didn’t just want to swap a brown vehicle for a green one,” he said. “We spent a lot of time with OEMs to configure vehicles correctly for weight, volume, and last mile requirements. Then we worked with our delivery professionals to support their investment decisions. It’s deepened our partnerships, which is exactly what we want.”
Charging infrastructure remains the biggest bottleneck. “There’s no one-size-fits-all,” Sofra explained. “We’re using a mix of home charging, on-site charging – with great support from IKEA – park-and-go hubs, and public infrastructure. The key learning is you need a multi-dimensional strategy.”
Looking Ahead – 300 EVs by 2028
ANC is not slowing down. The company’s next target is to have a third of its fleet – over 300 EVs – on the road by 2028.
“For metro last mile in Australia, I don’t see why every delivery couldn’t be electric right now.”
Joe Sofra, CEO at ANC Delivers
“Our focus is not just growing the fleet but also improving efficiency – doing more with fewer vehicles. We measure our progress in terms of carbon cost per order, and that’s where optimisation and smarter routing will be just as important as the vehicles themselves.”
A Cleaner, Greener Future
As World EV Day 2025 approaches, ANC’s milestone stands as proof of what’s possible when bold commitments meet practical action. For Sofra, the journey has been about more than vehicles – it’s about leading the industry, supporting partners, and creating lasting smiles for customers.
“We’ve just leaned into the problems and found solutions,” he said. “That’s the only way to make change happen.”
