Rivian settles in the Netherlands

Rivian has, according to the FD with at least twenty employees located in the Netherlands under the departments Rivian Netherlands and Rivian Europe. It was already known that Rivian also wants to enter the European market. Now it seems that it wants to do this from the Netherlands and will also sell cars in our country.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate has responded positively to the news. On NU.nl They say: “We would of course like to see Rivian come to the Netherlands. The cabinet is committed to this, as it is to attracting other foreign investments in our country. We cannot comment on the nature and content of these contacts in connection with with its confidentiality.”

Rivian is a serious player, having won a mega order for electric vans from the giant Amazon and recently raised billions in an IPO. However, it was announced earlier this week that an intended collaboration with Ford will not come about after all, and that caused a significant blow to the stock market value. Anyway, the first cars of the brand are currently being built in the US. It starts alongside the Amazon electric vans with the R1T, a fully electric pickup. On the same basis, Rivian is developing the R1S, an SUV. With this second model, the aim is to storm Europe in the coming year.

Local production is useful in this respect, which is why Rivian is looking at the possibilities of opening a European factory. However, it would also be an option to outsource fabrication or assembly to an existing facility. Then we naturally immediately think of VDL Nedcar, in view of the location in the Netherlands. That could also use a boost, now that the deal with Canoo seems to be faltering. Formally, however, no decision has been made yet whether and where Rivian will produce in Europe.