Rivian said it is accelerating the expansion of its service infrastructure, planning to open more than 50 new Service Centers by next year as it prepares for higher vehicle volumes tied to the upcoming launch of its R2 electric SUV platform.
The U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer expects its global service network to exceed 150 locations by the end of 2027. Larger facilities will be built in regions with high concentrations of Rivian owners, while customers in less populated areas will increasingly be supported through mobile service operations.
Mobile Service has become the company’s most widely used maintenance channel, prompting Rivian to plan a 50% increase in its fleet of service vans through 2026. The company has also been expanding its workforce, adding and training more than 1,000 service specialists over the past year and continuing to recruit additional technicians for both new and existing sites.
These efforts appear to be reducing delays for customers. Rivian said service scheduling wait times have fallen by 35% compared with the previous year, reflecting improvements in capacity and operational efficiency as the company’s installed vehicle base expands.
Technology is playing a central role in the strategy. Rivian’s connected vehicle systems allow engineers to detect potential faults remotely, sometimes before owners are aware of them. Certain issues can be resolved through over-the-air software updates, avoiding the need for a physical service visit. The company is also deploying artificial intelligence tools to optimize appointment scheduling, repair planning and parts logistics, while updates to its mobile app aim to simplify booking and communication.
“Ultimately, the best service visit is the one you don’t need to make,” the company said.
The expansion comes as Rivian prepares to introduce the R2, a lower-priced electric SUV expected to broaden the brand’s appeal and significantly increase sales volumes, making a larger and more efficient service network critical to maintaining customer satisfaction.
