
"There's a consumer vehicle line, and then there's a commercial vehicle line, but it's completely different robotics, completely different tooling and fixtures. Rivian's EDV project, Scaringe added, isn't taking attention away from its consumer vehicles, the R1T pickup and R1S SUV. Many other upstart EV makers may not be so lucky. Amazon's support could help Rivian weather a recession, if one materializes.But Scaringe sees signs that issue is abating, "in part because the suppliers really lean in to work with us, but also in part because there is some slowdown in overall demand," he says. In part, Rivian has been held back by a big problem recently plaguing every automaker: a serious lack of semiconductors.Amazon is also a significant Rivian shareholder, holding about 18% of the company's stock as of March."Rivian's going to be a very important one of them, but one of many."īetween the lines: The Amazon deal - it's buying 100,000 EDVs through 2030 - is a lifeline for Rivian, which has been seen as a promising Tesla competitor but has struggled to beef up its consumer production numbers.

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Onboard software links up with Amazon's logistics systems.The details: The EDV isn't just yesterday's cargo van with an internal combustion engine swapped for an electric one - it's purpose-built with tech meant to meet the needs of Amazon and its drivers. Louis, "among other cities" in the U.S., per Amazon. The EDV is also rolling out today in Baltimore, Dallas, Kansas City, Nashville, Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle and St.Commercial fleets will probably go electric at significant scale before everyday car buyers - meaning companies like Amazon, FedEx and so on are poised to drive the electrification revolution.ĭriving the news: Amazon introduced the production model of Rivian's van, called the Electric Delivery Vehicle (EDV), at a Chicago press event Thursday following a pilot program that began last year.Why it matters: Significantly electrifying Amazon's delivery van fleet could help the company meet its ambitious target of hitting net zero carbon emissions by 2040.

Amazon is beginning wide-scale deliveries Thursday with its Rivian-designed electric cargo van, a next-generation logistics vehicle years in the making.
