Rivian and Amazon are in discussions to regulate the exclusivity clause of their settlement for the EV maker’s electrical supply vehicles, an organization spokeswoman stated Monday.
Eliminating the exclusivity piece of the settlement would enable Rivian to courtroom new prospects as it really works to ramp manufacturing of the vans and its R1 collection pickup and SUV. The corporate can also be engaged on a forthcoming R2 mannequin and is in want of money. Final week, Rivian introduced plans to boost $1.3 billion by way of a sale of convertible notes to assist fund R2 improvement and launch.
Rivian spokeswoman Marina Norville stated in an announcement the corporate’s relationship with Amazon has and continues to be a optimistic one.
“We proceed to work carefully collectively, and are navigating a altering financial local weather, just like many firms,” she stated.
Rivian and Amazon struck a deal in 2019 handy over 100,000 electrical vehicles to the e-commerce large. Amazon started delivering packages with the automobiles in July, and Rivian final month touted 10 million packages delivered by way of the vans.
However Amazon, Rivian’s largest shareholder, has since underwhelmed with its order numbers, telling Rivian it needed to purchase about 10,000 automobiles this yr — the low finish of a beforehand said vary, in line with The Wall Avenue Journal, which first reported the discussions to finish exclusivity.
Amazon stated in an announcement to CNBC that 10,000 automobiles was the unique dedication, and that there was no change to its order quantity or partnership with Rivian.
“Whereas nothing has modified with our settlement with Rivian, we have at all times stated that we would like others to learn from their know-how in the long term as a result of having extra electrical supply automobiles on the highway is sweet for our communities and our planet,” an Amazon spokesperson stated.
Shares of Rivian fell round 3% in early buying and selling Monday.
—CNBC’s Annie Palmer and John Rosevear contributed to this report.