EV maker Rivian Automotive has expanded the sales for its Rivian Commercial Van, originally designed for Amazon, to fleets of all sizes across the US.
This move comes after the successful completion of trials with several large fleets operators in the US, and the end of an exclusivity period with shareholder Amazon.
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Amazon holds about 17% stake in Rivian, making it the largest shareholder in the company, reported The Verge.
In a press statement, Rivian said: “Since the conclusion of Rivian and Amazon’s exclusivity period, Rivian has been trailing its commercial van with several large fleets in the US, and preparing its fleet management process for the mass market.
“These pilots have paved the way to enable Rivian to open sales further.”
The van, which forms the basis for Amazon’s custom electric delivery van, is designed with a focus on “safety, driver comfort, total cost of ownership, and sustainability”.
The Rivian Commercial Van boasts an array of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, collision warnings, and 360-degree visibility.
With two available sizes, the 500 and the 700, the van has a payload capacity of up to 2,663 lbs and a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of up to 9,500 lbs.
Rivian’s software stack manages almost every vehicle interaction, from unlocking doors to charging and acceleration.
This integration aims to simplify the ownership experience while enhancing safety and productivity, ultimately reducing costs for fleet operators, Rivian stated.
Rivian business development senior director Tom Solomon said: “Over the last year we have been focusing our efforts on testing with some larger fleets, and we’re really pleased with how those trials have gone.
“As a result, we’re excited to now be able to open sales to fleets of all sizes in the US, whether they want 1 van or thousands. Our vehicles are designed to not only be among the safest on the road, but will also help fleet owners to reduce the cost of fleet ownership and their carbon footprint.”
Last month, the company secured a loan agreement for up to $6.6bn with the US Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office.
This financial support will facilitate the construction of a new electric vehicle production facility in Stanton Springs North, Georgia. The agreement comprises $6bn in principal and approximately $600m in capitalised interest.
