Amazon just revealed that Rivian EVs are now delivering packages across the United States, including cities like Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Nashville, Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle, and Saint Louis. The company expects the advance to serve over 100 used by the end of 2022 hoping to field 100,000 vehicles by 2030. This rollout from Amazon’s End has not gone the smoothest as it possibly could have gone as they first started testing the van in Los Angeles early last year, hoping to see them in as many as 16 cities by the end of 2021. But this expansion was relatively slow with San Francisco as the most notable addition.
The Rivian cargo carrier van is meant to help the company reach its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2040, also representing a substantial technological upgrade to their entire shipping service lineup. These bespoke vans are focused on safety, with greater visibility and a host of driver aids, including automatic emergency braking and highway assistance. They also, unsurprisingly, make use of Alexa to help drivers check the weather and otherwise improve their rides better than any other van can.
These deployments could be very important for the finances of both the companies, as Amazon already has a 20% stake in Rivian as of late 2021, standing to benefit when its automotive partner does it. Also, there is no secret that Rivian is also cutting costs to pursue sustainable growth.
