Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian announced an exciting new partnership this week, revealing that telecommunications leader AT&T has signed an agreement to purchase Rivian commercial electric vehicles. The deal marks a major expansion for the young automaker beyond its current relationship with Amazon.
AT&T expects to begin integrating Rivian’s Commercial Van and R1 pickup truck into its fleet in early 2024. The vehicles will be used in a pilot program focused on improving AT&T’s transportation sustainability through reduced emissions and total cost of ownership.
“We’re excited to purchase Rivian EVs for our fleet,” said Hardmon Williams, SVP of AT&T Connected Solutions. “This pilot is another important step in our ongoing efforts toward sustainability, reducing our carbon footprint and embracing a cleaner future for our operations.”
The transportation industry accounts for nearly 30% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, with commercial vans contributing significantly to that figure. Rivian’s electric options represent a unique opportunity for companies like AT&T to dramatically cut their climate impact.
“We couldn’t be happier to collaborate with AT&T as we work together to help cut emissions and protect our environment,” said Dagan Mishoulam, Rivian’s VP of Strategy & Fleet. “Our category defining vehicles offer some of the most advanced technology in the sector and are continually improved through over-the-air updates. We’re very much looking forward to expanding our relationship with AT&T to help them achieve their climate goals.”
Our Thoughts
While the exact number of vehicles in the AT&T order is unknown, Amazon and AT&T represent big-name partners already onboard with Rivian. This suggests a company poised to revolutionize electric transportation for both personal and commercial use in the coming years.