Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos announced that the internet giant has placed an order for 100,000 electric delivery vans from Rivian, as part of their strategy to become carbon neutral by 2040.
The first of the Amazon-exclusive Rivian delivery vans will enter service in 2021, with the massive order scheduled for completion by 2024. The vans will be based on Rivian’s bespoke skateboard platform that will also underpin the R1S and R1T production models.
Also Read: Rivian R1S Buyers Will Be Able To Choose Between Four Roof Configurations
That’s a huge order for any car maker, let alone Rivian which hasn’t offered yet a single vehicle to the public. However, the startup EV maker has already attracted major investments from both Amazon and Ford.
Amazon led a $700 million funding round for Rivian earlier this year, with Ford investing $500 million and Cox Automotive another $350 million into the startup EV maker.
Amazon’s greater plan is to become carbon neutral by 2040, a decade earlier ahead of the targets set by the Paris Accord. A spokeswoman for Rivian said to Reuters that when Amazon’s fleet is fully deployed, it’ll save 4 million metric tons of CO2 per year but declined to discuss the financial terms of the deal with Amazon.
Rivian is planning to launch two electric vehicles in the market next year: the R1S SUV and the R1T pickup truck. Both of them will be offered with at least three battery pack options, with a promised driving range of between 240 to 400 miles (386km to 643km), depending on the capacity.
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