Rivian’s electrical supply vans might quickly be accessible to corporations aside from Amazon

Rivian’s electrical supply van won’t be Amazon-exclusive for for much longer. The Wall Avenue Journal sources declare Rivian is in talks with Amazon to finish the exclusivity portion of their 2019 buy settlement. The EV maker is reportedly sad that Amazon ordered 10,000 vans this yr, on the low finish of a beforehand talked about vary. The termination would let Rivian increase its gross sales by courting different prospects.

The precise phrases of the proposed modifications aren’t accessible. The talks are persevering with, the sources say.

We have requested Rivian for remark. An Amazon spokesperson tells Engadget Rivian remains to be an “essential associate” and that it nonetheless expects to purchase 100,000 vans by 2030. The deal hasn’t modified, the corporate provides. On the similar time, the consultant says Amazon desires “others to profit” from Rivian expertise, as having extra electrical supply automobiles in service finally helps everybody.

The Amazon pact stays essential for Rivian’s funds. The vans at the moment symbolize one third of Rivian’s manufacturing quantity, and are serving to to bolster manufacturing numbers which can be nonetheless tiny in comparison with rivals like Tesla. Rivian solely made 24,337 automobiles in 2022. Bigger van orders would considerably develop the corporate’s output and supply higher monetary stability whereas the agency ramps up gross sales of its R1S SUV and R1T pickup, and works on its extra inexpensive R2 line.

Rivian nonetheless has a big money reserve thanks partly to Amazon’s giant funding within the EV startup. Nonetheless, it is nonetheless struggling to achieve profitability and has engaged in two rounds of layoffs over the previous yr to deal with a tricky economic system, rising prices and shrinking entry to funds. There’s strain on the corporate to keep away from future cutbacks, and improved gross sales will assistance on that entrance.

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