Amazon has begun rolling out Rivian electric delivery vehicles in Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Mo., Nashville, Tenn., Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle and St. Louis as well as other cities. Amazon expects to have thousands of custom electric delivery vehicles in more than 100 cities by the end of 2022 and to reach 100,000 vehicles across the U.S. by 2030.
Amazon has been testing deliveries with Rivian preproduction vehicles since 2021, delivering more than 430,000 packages and accumulating 90,000+ miles. The testing enabled Rivian to continuously improve the vehicle’s performance, safety and durability in various climates and geographies to ensure driver satisfaction and overall functionality. Rivian also has completed certifications with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, California Air Resources Board and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The Rivian partnership, which was first announced in 2019, is focused on vehicles designed with a combination of safety, sustainability and comfort in mind. The delivery vehicles include technology and features such as:
- A safety-first design focused on 360-degree visibility and vehicle features that protect drivers and pedestrians;
- A suite of safety features including sensor detection, highway and traffic assist technology, a large windshield to enhance driver visibility, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and collision warnings;
- Embedded technology that integrates the delivery workflow with the vehicle, enabling seamless access to routing, navigation, driver support and more;
- Features to enhance the driver experience and create ease on the road such as automatic door locking/unlocking as the driver approaches or leaves the vehicle and a powered bulkhead door that opens when drivers reach their delivery location;
- A strengthened door on the driver’s side for additional protection and an ergonomically designed driver’s cabin and cargo area for safe and easy movement inside the van; and
- Batteries that are light, resilient and low-cost in addition to lasting the lifetime of the vehicle.
Amazon expects to save millions of metric tons of carbon per year as it gets all 100,000 vehicles on the road. The ecommerce giant also has added thousands of charging stations at its delivery facilities across the country. Amazon will continue to invest in building an infrastructure to support a more sustainable delivery fleet as it works toward its commitment to reach net-zero carbon across its operations by 2040 as part of The Climate Pledge.
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“Fighting the effects of climate change requires constant innovation and action, and Amazon is partnering with companies who share our passion for inventing new ways to minimize our impact on the environment,” said Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon in a statement. “Rivian has been an excellent partner in that mission, and we’re excited to see our first custom electric delivery vehicles on the road. Today marks a significant milestone in our Climate Pledge commitment.”
