Amazon has offered a look at the Rivian-designed van that will electrify its delivery fleet.
In addition to ordering 100,000 vans from Rivian, Amazon is also an investor.
In a blog post, Amazon showed one of three different models customized with Rivian to “enhance the driver experience and optimize safety.”
“When we set out to create our first customized electric delivery vehicle with Rivian, we knew that it needed to far surpass any other delivery vehicle,” Ross Rachey, Director of Amazon’s Global Fleet and Products, said in a release. “We wanted drivers to love using it and customers to feel excited when they saw it driving through their neighborhood and pulling up to their home. We combined Rivian’s technology with our delivery logistics knowledge, and the result is what you see here-the future of last mile delivery.”
According to the release, the van’s features include:
- State-of-the-art sensor detection, a suite of highway and traffic assist technology, and a large windshield to enhance driver visibility.
- Exterior cameras around the vehicle that are linked to a digital display inside the cabin, giving the driver a 360-degree view outside the vehicle.
- Alexa integration for hands-free access to route information and the latest weather updates.
- A strengthened door on the driver’s side for additional protection.
- A “dancefloor” inside the driver’s cabin for easy movement inside the van.
- Bright tail lights surrounding the rear of the vehicle to easily detect braking.
- Three levels of shelving with a bulkhead door, which can easily be opened and closed for additional driver protection while on the road.
Rivian is set to start production next year on its all-electric R1T pickup and R1S sport utility vehicle. To date, Rivian has raised nearly $6 billion, including strategic capital from companies like Ford, Amazon, and Cox Automotive in 2019.