Amazon just unveiled a prototype of one of the electric vehicles being developed in partnership with EV manufacturer Rivian in Normal,.

The plan is to have 10,000 of the Rivian electric delivery vans on the road by 2022.

RJ Scaringe,Rivian CEO and founder, said in a statement that the vehicle “is not just electric” but prioritizes safety and functionality for package delivery.

From AboutAmazon.com:

Just a year since announcing The Climate Pledge, Amazon is excited to reveal its first custom electric delivery vehicle, designed and built in partnership with Rivian.

In support of The Climate Pledge commitment to be net zero carbon by 2040, 10,000 Amazon custom electric delivery vehicles will be on the road delivering to customers worldwide as early as 2022 and all 100,000 by 2030. This is one of three different models that Amazon has invested in and completely 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. 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,” said Ross Rachey, Director of Amazon’s Global Fleet and Products. “We combined Rivian’s technology with our delivery logistics knowledge, and the result is what you see here-the future of last mile delivery.”

Production and sales of the RIVIAN electric pickup trucks and SUVs has been delayed to next summer due to the pandemic.

Susan Saunders 10/9/20