RIVIAN AUTOMOTIVE
THE STORY BEHIND SUSTAINABILITY
Rivian entered the automotive industry at an interesting period . The company was very much undergoing its formation when major carmakers first started thinking about EVs , which , at the time , were seen as a ‘ nice-to-have ’.
With a passion for automotive and a desire to protect nature in all its glory , Rivian ’ s CEO , RJ Scaringe , set about building his dream : a vehicle with no limits and an adventurous edge that would allow drivers to explore harmlessly , reinvigorating their love for the environment .
The company first piqued interest with its two EV models . The R1T , its pickup truck model , and the R1S , which leverages the same great technology in an SUV body . In 2022 , the company reached a major milestone with the announcement of it supplying electric delivery vans to Amazon — the initial quantity being 10,000 , with potential for the e-commerce giant to expand this to 100,000 .
Rivian cultivating a business on what was seemingly a blank canvas meant that the company worked through many challenges in its indirect procurement function to ensure that it remained true to its roots .
The solutions adopted by the company were pivotal . They allowed the team to focus on more hands-on tasks , alleviating the need for human input in the day-to-day processes .
“ We had the opportunity to build an organisation that is truly best-in-class , from the ground up . We don ' t have to change any old behaviours ; we can create new ones , and in the right manner , too . Balancing the two of those meant knowing
50 [ Jan 2023 ] EVMAGAZINE . COM