Amazon has announced the launch of its custom electric delivery vans from Rivian in Europe, marking Rivian’s first commercial shipment of vans outside the United States. The initial batch of 300 vans will soon be seen on the streets of Munich, Berlin, and Dusseldorf. Amazon already operates a fleet of thousands of electric vans in Europe, including over 1,000 e-vans in Germany, as part of its commitment to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
Rocco Bräuniger, country manager for Amazon, emphasized the importance of reducing delivery-related emissions and stated that the new Rivian vans will contribute to delivering packages more sustainably to a larger customer base. In the United States, Amazon began deploying Rivian’s vans last year, with more than 3,000 vans already delivering packages across 500 markets. The company has placed an order for 100,000 vans from Rivian, with the expectation of fulfillment by 2030.
Amazon conducted tests with Rivian’s pre-production vehicles in Europe last year, utilizing the feedback to enhance the vans’ performance, safety, comfort, functionality, and durability. The European Rivian delivery vans are designed to be shorter and thinner than their U.S. counterparts, ensuring better maneuverability on European roads.
These custom vans offer several notable features, including a large windshield for improved visibility, advanced driver assistance systems such as automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, and integration of delivery workflow with routing, navigation, and driver support. The cabins and cargo areas are ergonomically designed for driver comfort, and the driver’s side door has been reinforced for added protection.
Rivian’s entry into the European market comes after the company and Mercedes-Benz paused their plans to jointly produce electric commercial vans. Rivian cited the need to focus on its consumer vehicle business and existing commercial partnership with Amazon. In March, reports emerged of discussions between Rivian and Amazon to remove their exclusivity clause, potentially enabling Rivian to pursue other commercial opportunities.
