Rivian, the American electric vehicle (EV) maker, is reportedly in talks with Amazon to end the exclusivity clause in their commercial EV van deal. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, unnamed sources said that if successful, Rivian would be able to sell its electric vans to other customers.
The discussions are still ongoing, but Amazon confirmed that the exclusivity agreement is still in place. However, an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement that the company has always been open to others benefiting from Rivian’s technology in the long run, as having more EVs on the road is good for the planet. The spokesperson added, “While nothing has changed with our agreement with Rivian, we’ve always said that we want others to benefit from their technology in the long run because having more electric delivery vehicles on the road is good for our communities and our planet.”
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Amazon is not only a customer but also an investor in Rivian, owning about 17% of the EV maker. In 2019, the two companies signed an agreement that required Rivian to sell all of its produced vans to Amazon. At the time, Amazon had announced that it had ordered 100,000 vans as part of its effort to reduce its carbon footprint.
Rivian began production of the vans in December 2021, and in July 2022, Amazon rolled out the custom electric vans built by Rivian in more than a dozen cities. Amazon had been testing pre-production versions of the electric delivery vans since 2021 in a few US cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco.
A spokesperson for Rivian said that the two companies continue to work together, and their relationship has always been a positive one. The spokesperson stated, “Our relationship with Amazon has always been a positive one—we continue to work closely together, and are navigating a changing economic climate, similar to many companies. The relationship we have with Amazon is a very positive one.”
See also: Amazon will spend €1 billion to electrify its fleet in Europe
While Rivian remains an important partner for Amazon, the EV maker hopes to expand its customer base by selling its vans to other customers if the exclusivity agreement is dissolved. Overall, the talks between Rivian and Amazon to dissolve the exclusivity clause in their commercial EV van deal could potentially open up a new market for Rivian and help more companies transition to sustainable transportation.
