Rivian Expands Commercial EV Sales to U.S. Fleets
Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian Automotive has announced the availability of its commercial vans for order by fleets of all sizes across the United States, as stated in a press release on February 10. The company is offering two models: the ‘Delivery 500’ and ‘Delivery 700’, both equipped with a front-wheel drive (FWD) electric powertrain and having a gross vehicle weight rating of 9,500 lbs. The estimated driving range for these vehicles is approximately 160 miles.
Rivian’s development of these commercial vans was done in close collaboration with Amazon, starting in 2019. This partnership has provided Rivian with valuable insights into the requirements for commercial electric fleet vehicles in terms of features, functionality, and durability. The experience gained from this pilot program has enabled Rivian to expand its sales to other fleet customers.
The decision to open sales to a broader customer base follows Rivian’s announcement in November 2023 to sell commercial electric vehicles to fleet customers beyond Amazon. In December 2023, Rivian signed an agreement with AT&T for the purchase of electric vans as part of a pilot program. Notably, AT&T is also the exclusive provider of connectivity features for Rivian vehicles. Despite this expansion, Amazon remains Rivian’s largest commercial customer.
In 2019, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos placed a significant order with Rivian for up to 100,000 electric delivery vans by 2030, valued at $7 billion. Currently, Amazon operates more than 20,000 Rivian delivery vehicles, which delivered over a billion packages in 2024 alone. Amazon has also deployed Rivian’s custom vans to Europe, with plans to use 300 vans in Germany as part of a larger fleet of electric vans.
“We’ve been focusing on testing with larger fleets over the last year, and we’re really pleased with how those trials have gone,” said Tom Solomon, Rivian’s senior director of business development. “As a result, we’re excited to now open sales to fleets of all sizes in the US, whether they want one van or thousands.”
Rivian’s entry into the commercial EV market may pose a competitive challenge to major automakers such as General Motors, Ford Motor Co., and Stellantis, who are also planning to launch commercial electric vehicles and connected software solutions for fleet customers. In August 2024, General Motors announced plans to integrate its electric BrightDrop commercial vans under its Chevrolet brand to streamline sales, service, and maintenance for commercial customers.
The Delivery 500 van is priced starting at $79,900, while the larger Delivery 700 model starts at $83,900. Both models are based on Rivian’s EV platform, which is also used by Amazon. The Delivery 700 offers 652 cubic feet of cargo space, compared to 487 cubic feet for the Delivery 500. Rivian’s commercial EVs feature the company’s proprietary software, which controls various interactions such as acceleration, vehicle unlocking, door opening, and charging management. According to Rivian, these features are designed to enhance the ownership experience, reduce costs, increase safety, and boost the productivity of fleet vehicles.
“Our vehicles are designed not only to be among the safest on the road but also to help fleet owners reduce the cost of fleet ownership and their carbon footprint,” Solomon explained.
