Mercedes-Benz and Rivian announced a new partnership to produce and scale electric vans in Europe.
The German automaker plans to leverage on newly launched Rivian’s technology to phase out its gas engine vans by 2025.
Both companies plan to build and operate a factory in Europe that produces vans like Rivian. The company has a contract to supply Amazon with 100.000 electric delivery vans.
R.J. Scaringe, Rivian CEO in a press statement said, “Mercedes‑Benz is one of the world’s best known and respected automotive companies, and we believe that together we will produce truly remarkable electric vans which will not only benefit our customers but the planet.”
Rivian currently makes electric vans for Amazon, which holds an 18% stake in the startup and has a contract for 100,000. The automaker plans to start selling the commercial van to other customers next year.
The partnership is a match made in heaven, it will help each company leverage investments and costs. The vans will be based on Mercedes-Benz’s electric van platform, VAN.EA, and on Rivian’s second-generation Rivian Light Van (RLV) platform.
