By
Tokoni Uti
January 16th, 2024
With their focus set on reducing costs for both companies, Mercedes Benz and Rivian will pool their funds, supplies, technology, and skills together to achieve their aim.
Top electric vehicle (EV) makers Mercedes-Benz Vans and Rivian have revealed a new partnership after the two firms recently inked an agreement deal. The deal was announced in an earlier press release and would see the two companies combine to produce cutting-edge electric vans.
Mercedes Benz Vans and Rivian to Create a Manufacturing Unit
According to the press release, the companies are looking to build an EV-only production facility in one of the existing sites of Mercedes-Benz in Europe. As confirmed in a joint statement by the firms, production will not begin until a few years. But in that time, the two companies will hope to finalize agreements, even as they also secure relevant regulatory clearances.
With their focus set on reducing costs for both companies, the partners will pool their funds, supplies, technology, and skills. This is to enable them achieve their aim faster and at a more affordable rate.
By the time the joint venture goes fully operational, it will be producing two different EV vans – one for each company. One will be based on VAN.EA (Mercedes Benz Vans Electric Architecture). The other will be based on the Rivian Light Van (RLV). But there will also be deliberations in the future over a possible expansion of the scope of the partnership.
Common Goals
It is worth mentioning that this new partnership between Mercedes Benz and Rivian was borne out of sharing common ambitions. The companies are both keen on the electrification and cleansing of transportation. And of course, by working together, that collective aim would be achieved more easily.
Speaking about what Mercedes Benz Vans hopes to achieve from this partnership, Mathias Geisen, head of Mercedes’ commercial van unit says that his firm is intensifying efforts to have a fully electric product portfolio. He also spoke about their shared ambitions, saying:
“We also share the same strategic ambition: accelerating the electrification of the van market with sustainable and superior products for our customers.”
Meanwhile, there is every tendency that when production begins, the vans Mercedes and Rivian will build will have some similarities. But ultimately, they’ll be different designs as earlier mentioned.