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Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe says Amazon has increased demand for the company’s electric delivery vans, citing lower operating costs. Rivian reported $1.6 billion in Amazon revenue so far this year, nearly three times the year-earlier level, though it does not disclose van deliveries separately. The company says it is also speaking with other potential fleet customers, but a rumored Walmart deal is unconfirmed.
Rivian says Amazon has increased orders for its EDV electric delivery vans, giving the automaker a growing source of revenue alongside its consumer vehicles. CEO RJ Scaringe said on the company’s latest earnings call that Amazon demand had stepped up, while Rivian reported $1.6 billion in revenue from Amazon so far this year, nearly three times the year-earlier amount.
Scaringe attributed Amazon’s increased purchases to the vans’ lower operating costs. He said the vehicles create “true and very real structural cost advantages” that are encouraging Amazon to continue buying them. Rivian did not provide a breakdown of how many vans it delivered, and Amazon revenue may include items beyond EDV sales; the source report describes the figure as primarily related to van sales.
Rivian said Amazon paid it $596 million in the third quarter, more than it paid during the first three quarters of the previous year combined. The company’s reported Amazon revenue for the year to date is a financial measure, not a disclosed count of vans or a direct measure of profit.
Rivian also said it has begun delivering two new EDV variants to Amazon. One adds all-wheel drive, while the other has a larger battery and 30% more range, according to the company. The variants are aimed at rural routes, which can require vehicles to cover longer distances between stops.
Amazon Orders Add a Second Revenue Engine
The figures suggest Rivian’s commercial business is contributing meaningfully while the company builds out its consumer-vehicle lineup. Its R2 crossover is positioned as a lower-priced model intended to broaden Rivian’s market, but the EDV offers a separate route to sales through fleet purchases. Amazon’s repeat orders give Rivian a large customer relationship and a potential source of volume beyond individual buyers.
There may also be an opening for Rivian as some competing electric-van programs lose momentum. The source report says Ford sold fewer than 700 E-Transit vans during the cited period and canceled a next-generation model, while General Motors ended its BrightDrop electric delivery-van program late last year. Those developments could reduce competition, but they do not establish how much market share Rivian has gained or whether it can sustain demand.
Commercial fleets evaluate vehicles through operating costs and route suitability, not just purchase price. If Rivian’s cost claims hold up for customers, additional fleet orders could support the company’s business. The reported revenue, however, does not by itself show the vans’ profitability or the costs Rivian incurs to manufacture and deliver them.
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From Amazon Fleet to Broader Orders
Amazon was an early investor in Rivian and has used the company’s electric delivery vans in its logistics network. Rivian opened fleet orders to companies beyond Amazon last year, with the smaller EDV model listed at a starting price of $79,900. The move gave other commercial operators a way to consider the van, though the source report does not say how many non-Amazon orders Rivian has secured.
Rivian’s consumer lineup has drawn attention as well. The R2, described in the source report as Rivian’s best-selling vehicle in the third quarter after entering the market in June, is intended to sit below the company’s R1 models in price. The commercial van story is distinct: Amazon’s purchases are already generating reported revenue, while wider demand from other fleet operators remains a prospect rather than a confirmed source of comparable sales.
Ray Minjares, who leads the heavy-duty vehicles program at the International Council on Clean Transportation, said EV-only manufacturers are driving much of the current U.S. commercial-vehicle electrification activity. The report also points to Harbinger Motors’ agreement to supply FedEx with 2,000 electric trucks, illustrating that other startups are pursuing fleet customers in different vehicle categories.
““This year we have seen a significant step up in the level of demand from Amazon.””
— RJ Scaringe, Rivian founder and CEO, on the company’s earnings call
Van Volumes and Walmart Speculation
Rivian does not disclose EDV delivery volumes by customer, so the reported Amazon revenue cannot be translated into a van count. The company’s figures also do not establish how much of that revenue came from vehicle sales rather than other business with Amazon, or what margins Rivian earns on the vans.
A photograph of an EDV in Walmart livery circulated online, prompting speculation about a possible deal. Rivian did not comment directly on the image when analysts asked about it, and no agreement with Walmart was confirmed in the source report. Scaringe said Rivian is talking with other potential EDV customers, but did not identify them or describe the status or scale of any prospective orders.
It also remains unclear whether Amazon’s higher demand will continue at the same pace, how the new variants will perform on rural routes, and how much of Rivian’s future business could come from customers outside Amazon.
Watch for Fleet Deals and Delivery Data
Rivian’s next updates on Amazon purchases, EDV deliveries and fleet orders should show whether the reported increase represents sustained demand. Investors and fleet operators will also be watching for more detail on the two new variants and whether Rivian names additional commercial customers.
For now, Rivian has confirmed stronger Amazon demand and rising Amazon revenue, while a broader customer roster remains a possibility rather than an announced outcome. Any Walmart agreement, order volume, delivery schedule or financial terms would need confirmation from the companies.
Key Questions
How much revenue did Rivian report from Amazon this year?
Rivian reported $1.6 billion in Amazon revenue so far this year, nearly three times the year-earlier amount. The source report says the figure is primarily related to EDV sales, but Rivian does not break out the van-related portion separately.
Why is Amazon buying more Rivian vans?
CEO RJ Scaringe said Amazon is responding to the vans’ lower operating costs. The company did not provide independent cost data or detail the savings Amazon has achieved.
Has Rivian confirmed a Walmart van deal?
No. A photo of an EDV wearing Walmart livery circulated online, but Rivian did not confirm a deal. Scaringe said the company is speaking with other potential commercial customers without naming them.
What new EDV versions is Rivian delivering?
Rivian said it has started delivering two variants to Amazon: one with all-wheel drive and another with a larger battery and 30% more range. The company said they are intended for rural routes.
Source: insideevs.com
