Amazon has announced it has started the roll-out of Rivian electric delivery vans in Europe – with 300 vehicles set to hit the roads in Germany in the coming weeks.
Customised by Amazon, the Rivian electric delivery vans will be arriving in the Munich, Berlin, and Dusseldorf regions first, adding to the fleet of e-vehicles Amazon already runs across Europe.
Amazon said it has more than 1,000 electric delivery vans in operation in Germany already, but the new wave of vehicles comes after the company said in 2022 that it plans to invest more than €1 billion to electrify its European transportation network and reduce carbon emissions. More than €400 million of that investment is dedicated for Germany.
Neil Emery, director, global fleet & product at Amazon, said: “Together, Amazon and Rivian designed and built a state-of-the-art electric vehicle from the ground up, and unlike anything else on the road today.
“The safety and comfort of our drivers were top of mind for us throughout this process, and we’ve raised the bar on both with the vehicle we are rolling out in Europe today.”
Dagan Mishoulam, vice president, strategy & go to market at Rivian, suggested the electric delivery vans have been well-received by drivers in the US, where more than 3,000 of them have been introduced to roads since last summer.
“We’ve had incredible feedback from drivers in the US and we’re excited to start international expansion in Germany,” Mishoulam noted.
“Today is a real milestone for us as it also marks the first Rivian vehicles in Europe and we’re very excited about our future in the region.”
Rocco Bräuniger, country manager for Amazon’s German operation, commented: “Last year we delivered more than 45 million packages in Germany with electric vans and e-cargo bikes, and these new additions from Rivian will help us deliver packages more sustainably and to more customers.”
Amazon said it has been testing deliveries with Rivian preproduction vehicles in Europe since last year, which has allowed the manufacturer to keep improving and tailoring the vehicles to its specific needs. The customised vehicles include routing technology and a strengthened door on the driver’s side for additional protection, as well as an ergonomically designed driver’s cabin and cargo area.
Amazon aims to have 100,000 electric delivery vehicles from Rivian on the road globally by 2030, which is said will save millions of metric tons of carbon per year.
[Image credit: Amazon]
