Rivian Achieves Two Major Successes with R1T Pickup and Amazon’s EDV Milestones
Rivian Scores Dual Wins with R1T and Amazon EDV Milestones
Steve Birkett is an electric vehicle advocate based in Greater Boston, Massachusetts. He is a content creator and marketing professional who contributes written and recorded pieces to a wide range of media outlets. His analysis has been featured in Find The Best Car Price, WWLP TV, and Torque News, among others. He has also had video content featured on Inside EVs. Birkett was an EV Guide for Plug in America events in Massachusetts (Drive Electric Cambridge and Drive Electric Lowell) and Ohio (Earth Day 2019 at Cleveland Zoo). He participates in quarterly advisory panel meetings for EVolve New York (a state-level charging initiative) and has contributed to focus groups for prominent U.S. charging networks.
Birkett is a father-of-two who loves nothing more than packing up the family and hitting the road in their latest electric car, which is currently a 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5. With multiple Chevy Bolts in his past, as well as a Chevy Volt and Tesla Model 3 LR in the extended family, plus various EV rentals when he ventures back home to his native United Kingdom, Birkett has more than 100,000 all-electric miles under his belt and is always ready to try out a new electric vehicle.
For press inquiries, contact steve@findthebestcarprice.com
Rivian's big win at the 2023 Rebelle Rally, combined with its steady delivery of Amazon EDV (electric delivery vans) reaching five figures, demonstrates a company building firm foundations for its brand and manufacturing. At a time when other all-electric startups are floundering or going bankrupt, Rivian is starting to find its stride.
- Steve Birkett, Senior EV Editor
October 24th, 2023 – Electric vehicle startup Rivian marked two big wins this week, becoming the first EV maker to win the Rebelle Rally and hitting a key delivery milestone of 10,000 EDVs for online retail giant Amazon.
In the offroading world, the Rebelle Rally is a notable moment for the Rivian R1T. The all-electric truck - and Rivian's first product - was piloted to victory by Rivian employees Lillian Macaruso (driver) and Alexandra Anderson (co-pilot). The R1T became the first EV to conquer the challenging 1553-mile route, which winds through the deserts of California and Nevada over eight days of driving. Interestingly, the second-placed vehicle was also partially electric, in the form of the plug-in hybrid Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe.
Just days apart, Rivian's partner Amazon also announced that it now has tens of thousands of the automaker's delivery vehicles on the road. The retail giant holds a stake in Rivian and has committed to using the brand's vehicles for deliveries in key markets.
On the electric delivery van front, the milestone of 10,000 units produced puts Rivian well on the way to meeting Amazon's promise as part of its Climate Pledge. The eCommerce giant plans to put 100,000 Amazon EDVs on the road by 2030, across the United States and Europe.
The combination of these two wins underscores the foundation that Rivian is building as it navigates the challenges of being a new player in a notoriously challenging and capital-intensive market. Winning the Rebelle Rally bolsters the brand focused on off-road adventures, while delivering for Amazon shows the automaker can satisfy the requirements of more mundane-yet-lucrative EV applications.
