---
title: "Rivian and Mercedes Freeze Short-Lived Plans to Build Electric Vans Together"
description: "Mercedes and Rivian's electric van business will not proceed as planned, as Rivian plans to focus on its existing products."
date: "2022-12-12"
modified: "2022-12-12"
authors:
  - name: "James Gilboy"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/rivian-and-mercedes-short-lived-freeze-plans-to-build-electric-vans-together"
categories:
  - "Mercedes-Benz News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Rivian News"
tags:
  - "Electric Vehicle"
---

# Rivian and Mercedes Freeze Short-Lived Plans to Build Electric Vans Together

![Rivian delivers vans to Amazon in Chicago, Illinois](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/12/Amazon_Custom_Electric_Delivery_Vehicle_Launch_Event_in_Chicago__Il..jpg>)
*\<em\>Rivian\</em\>*

[Mercedes-Benz](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/mercedes-news>) and [Rivian](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/rivian-news>) have put plans to produce [electric vans](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/what-a-qt-new-mercedes-eqt-is-the-small-electric-van-we-need-in-the-us>) together on hold less than three months into the announced partnership.

In September the two automakers announced a joint plant in Jawor, Poland, where they would [jointly manufacture a pair of electric vans](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/rivian-and-mercedes-benz-want-to-build-electric-vans-together>). One was to be based on Mercedes' next-generation modular electric van platform, VAN.EA, while the other was to utilize the Rivian Light Vehicle (RLV) architecture. It's a different platform than is currently used in [Rivian's Amazon vans](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/38717/listen-to-the-loud-irritating-noise-made-by-amazons-electric-rivian-delivery-vans>), which use the RCV platform instead.

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/12/Rivian-Amazon-EDV-06.jpeg>)
*Rivian's Amazon delivery van in the wild. *Rivian**

Now, Rivian has shuffled its priorities, with a Mercedessaying the deal "is on hold due to Rivian's ongoing reprioritization of projects." Mercedes added that it still intends to follow through on its Jawor production plans. Rivian's perspective was explained by CEO RJ Scaringe, who said his company would focus on its existing businesses.

"At this point in time, we believe focusing on our consumer business, as well as our existing commercial business, represent the most attractive near-term opportunities to maximize value for Rivian," Scaringe said, according to *[Automotive News Europe](<https://europe.autonews.com/automakers/mercedes-rivian-pause-plan-electric-van-jv-europe>)*.

Scaringe refers to Rivian's R1 electric off-roaders and its Amazon-bound vans, with [the latter reportedly being Rivian's top priority](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/42670/rivians-focus-is-amazon-delivery-vans-not-trucks-or-suvs-report>). Rivian is contracted to deliver 10,000 of the vans to Amazon before the end of 2022 and 100,000 before the end of the decade. By the end of 2022, the vans are expected to be in service in over 100 U.S. cities. Production of the R1T pickup truck and related R1S SUV are also gradually increasing, though [both have struggled in the face of continued supply chain problems](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/44700/rivians-production-struggles-are-way-worse-than-expected>). Consequently, Rivian has [delayed its planned R2 models](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/rivians-next-gen-r2-platform-is-delayed-until-2026>)—meant to be more affordable than the R1s—by a year to 2026.

*Got a tip or question for the author? You can reach them here: james@thedrive.com*

## Author
James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids."

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/jamesgilboy>)