Amazon ordered 100,000 electric delivery vans from Rivian, but you won't buy one yourself
In 2019, Amazon announced it would buy 100,000 electric delivery vans from Rivian, a startup truck maker. As of 2024, Rivian has delivered several thousand of these vans—called the RCV (Rivian Commercial Vehicle)—to Amazon's logistics network. The deal matters to you as a consumer because it shapes what electric commercial vehicles look like on the road, how fast the industry scales, and what technology eventually reaches smaller fleets and used markets.
The RCV is not a consumer product. Amazon owns and operates these vans as part of its last-mile delivery system. You cannot order one new, and used RCVs are not yet widely available to the public. However, understanding the deal and the vehicle itself helps you see where the electric van market is headed and what to expect when similar vehicles become available to businesses and individuals.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon's 100,000-van order is the largest electric commercial vehicle purchase ever made, and it commits Rivian to building vehicles specifically designed for package delivery.
- The RCV has a 150-mile range, can carry 500 pounds of payload, and is built to handle repeated stop-and-start city driving rather than highway speed.
- Rivian is also building the R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV for consumers, so the Amazon deal funds both commercial and consumer electric vehicle development.
- The deal has faced delays—Rivian initially promised faster delivery timelines but has adjusted production schedules multiple times since 2019.
- Used RCVs will eventually enter the market, but that is still years away; new commercial electric vans from other makers are available now if you need one for your business.
How the Amazon-Rivian deal works
Amazon committed to purchasing 100,000 RCVs over time, with no fixed end date. Rivian builds the vans at its factory in Normal, Illinois, and delivers them to Amazon's distribution centers. Amazon then deploys them into its delivery network across the United States. The deal includes options for Amazon to order additional vehicles beyond the initial 100,000.
The financial terms are not public, but Amazon invested $1.2 billion in Rivian in 2019 as part of the arrangement. This investment gave Amazon a stake in Rivian's success and helped fund the company's factory and development costs. Rivian has also raised money from other investors, including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and other venture capital firms.
Rivian is not obligated to sell the RCV to anyone else. The design is optimized for Amazon's specific needs—package delivery in urban and suburban areas—so other delivery companies would need to negotiate their own deals or wait for Rivian to develop variants for different use cases.
What the RCV is designed to do
The RCV is purpose-built for last-mile delivery. It has a 150-mile range per charge, which covers a typical delivery route in a city or suburb. The cargo area holds about 500 pounds of payload—roughly 200 to 300 packages depending on size. The van has a low floor for straightforward loading and unloading, a backup camera, and an electric lift gate.
The vehicle is smaller and lighter than a traditional delivery truck. It is about 20 feet long, which lets it fit into residential neighborhoods and park in standard spaces. The electric motor is quiet, which reduces noise pollution during early morning and evening deliveries. The design prioritizes reliability and low maintenance over speed or long-distance range.
Amazon chose Rivian partly because the company had no existing vehicle line to protect. Rivian could design the RCV from the ground up for electric power, rather than converting a gas truck. This approach typically results in better efficiency and lower operating costs than retrofitting an existing platform.
Production timeline and delivery progress
Rivian began delivering RCVs to Amazon in 2022, later than originally planned. The company initially promised to have 10,000 vans on the road by the end of 2022, but supply chain delays and manufacturing challenges pushed that timeline back. As of early 2024, Rivian has delivered several thousand vans, and Amazon has deployed them in cities including Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas, and New York.
Rivian has not published exact delivery numbers, but company statements and industry reports suggest the pace is accelerating. The company expanded its Normal, Illinois factory and is building a second factory in Georgia to increase production capacity. At current rates, delivering all 100,000 vans would take many years—likely into the 2030s.
Delays have been common in the electric vehicle industry. Rivian faced battery supply shortages, semiconductor chip delays, and manufacturing ramp-up challenges similar to those that affected Tesla and other EV makers. Amazon has publicly stated it remains committed to the deal despite the slower pace.
How this affects the broader EV market
The Amazon deal is the largest commercial EV purchase order ever placed. It signals that electric delivery vans are economically viable for large-scale operations, which encourages other companies to invest in the technology. FedEx, UPS, and other logistics companies have announced their own electric vehicle plans, partly in response to Amazon's move.
The deal also funds Rivian's consumer vehicle business. Money from Amazon's investment and the van orders helps Rivian develop and build the R1T electric pickup truck and R1S electric SUV for individual buyers. Without the Amazon deal, Rivian might not have survived the capital-intensive early years of manufacturing.
Rivian's success or failure with the RCV affects how quickly other startups can raise money for commercial EV projects. If the deal proves profitable and the vans perform well, investors will fund similar ventures. If production continues to lag or costs spiral, it could slow investment in the sector.
When RCVs might become available to other buyers
Amazon's contract does not prevent Rivian from selling RCVs to other companies, but Rivian has not announced plans to do so. The company is focused on meeting Amazon's orders and building consumer vehicles. If Rivian ever offers the RCV to other fleet operators, it would likely be years from now, after Amazon's initial order is substantially complete.
Used RCVs will eventually enter the secondary market as Amazon retires or replaces them. A delivery van typically stays in service for 5 to 10 years, so the earliest used RCVs could appear around 2027 or 2028. At that point, small delivery companies, contractors, and other businesses might purchase them at auction or through used vehicle dealers.
If you need an electric delivery van for your business today, other options exist. Companies like Workhorse, Lightning eMotors, and Ford (with its E-Transit) offer electric vans for commercial use. These vehicles are available now and do not require waiting for Amazon's fleet to age out.
Rivian's other vehicles and business
Rivian is not a one-product company. The R1T is a consumer electric pickup truck with a 400-mile range and a unique gear tunnel storage feature. The R1S is a three-row electric SUV based on the same platform. Both vehicles are in production and available for order, though delivery times have been longer than initially promised.
Rivian has also announced plans for a smaller, more affordable vehicle called the R2, expected to arrive in 2026. The R2 is designed to compete with mainstream electric SUVs and reach a broader market than the premium-priced R1 line.
The company went public in 2021 and has faced stock price volatility as production challenges and delays became public. Rivian's long-term success depends on delivering vehicles on schedule, controlling costs, and proving that its technology is competitive with established automakers entering the EV market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a Rivian RCV for my delivery business?
Not directly from Rivian. The RCV is built exclusively for Amazon under their contract. If you need an electric delivery van now, companies like Ford (E-Transit), Workhorse, and Lightning eMotors offer similar vehicles. Used RCVs may become available in the secondary market in several years as Amazon retires older vans.
How much does an RCV cost?
Rivian has not published the per-unit price of the RCV. The total deal value is not public, so the cost per van is unknown. For comparison, commercial electric vans from other makers range from $40,000 to $80,000 depending on size and features.
Why did Amazon choose Rivian instead of an established truck maker?
Rivian could design the RCV from scratch for electric power, rather than converting an existing gas vehicle. Established makers like Ford and GM were slower to develop purpose-built electric commercial vehicles. Amazon also wanted to invest in and support a startup focused on electric technology.
Will the RCV be available to consumers eventually?
Rivian has not announced plans to sell the RCV to individual consumers or small businesses. The vehicle is optimized for Amazon's specific needs. If Rivian develops a commercial van for the broader market, it would likely be a different model with different features and pricing.
How many RCVs has Amazon received so far?
Rivian has not published exact numbers, but several thousand RCVs have been delivered as of early 2024. The company is increasing production capacity, but delivering all 100,000 vans will take many more years at current rates.