Mercedes-Benz Vans has signed an agreement with electric vehicle start-up Rivian for the joint production of large electric vans – which the firms claim will “set the standard” for electric transportation.
We suspect you’ve probably heard of Mercedes-Benz. Its van division has been gradually expanding its range of electric models in recent years, and currently offers the eSprinter, eVito and eCitan. It will launch a new EQT shortly, and from 2025 onwards all the vans on its new platform will be electric-only.
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Rivian might be a newer name to you: it’s an American EV company that currently offers an electric SUV and pick-up in the USA. But it’s also developed an electric delivery van for Amazon, with a contract to eventually deliver 100,000 units. The first were put into action in the US earlier this year.
The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a strategic partnership that will initially involve them sharing investments, costs and operational synergies to produce “bespoke” large electric vans for each company.
The deal is still subject to final agreements and regulatory approval, but will involve the establishment of a joint venture manufacturing company that “starting in a few years” will operate a factory in Europe. The new factory will be an electric-only facility, and will leverage an unspecified existing Mercedes-Benz site in Central/Eastern Europe.
Unusually, the agreement won’t strictly involve the production of two essentially identical vehicles with different badges. Instead, the Mercedes-Benz machine will be built on VAN.EA, the firm’s bespoke electric van architecture, while the Rivian machine will be based on that firm’s Rival Light Van (RLV) platform.
The two firms said they envisaged “production-optimised vehicles designed for efficient manufacturing on common assembly lines”, while likely means the two machines would share relatively common dimensions and parts so they can be assembled alongside each other.
Rivian boss RJ Scaringe said: “Mercedes‑Benz is one of the world’s best known and respected automotive companies, and we believe that together we will produce truly remarkable electric vans which will not only benefit our customers, but the planet.”
Mathias Geisen, the boss of Mercedes-Benz Vans, described Rivian as “a highly dynamic and inspiring partner”, adding: “We are sharing investments and technology because we also share the same strategic ambition: accelerating the electrification of the van market with sustainable and superior products for our customers.”
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