Rivian’s deal to create 100,000 electric vans for Amazon is just one example of EV startups and legacy automakers’ thirst to secure contracts to electrify commercial fleets in the U.S.

Ford, GM’s Brightdrop, Stellantis and Canoo have also secured large-scale EV fleet contracts with companies like Walmart and FedEx.

To find out firsthand just how much of a lifeline these fleet electrification contracts can be for automakers, and why they’re so lucrative, we got access to take a closer look inside Rivian’s factory.

0:00 A huge chunk of Rivian’s factory is dedicated to making vans for Amazon
00:42 There are some 8 million commercial fleet vehicles that could need electrifying
01:51 Automakers like GM, Stellantis and Ford have all secured commercial EV contracts
02:27 Canoo’s fleet contracts may help the company survive
03:07 How making commercial EV’s can be just as challenging as making consumer ones

I'm George Downs, a WSJ video journalist fascinated by how technology is changing how we get from A to B. If you're interested in the future of mobility or how modern transportation—from EVs to eVTOLs, and beyond— can impact our lives, then don't forget to subscribe.

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