Every company has a logo—an emblem that instantly conveys its identity. These small yet powerful symbols often fade into the background, but they play a crucial role in branding.
Surprisingly, Rivian operated without a logo for a significant portion of its early years. When RJ Scaringe founded the company in 2009, there was no official emblem. It wasn’t until 2017 after Rivian acquired its manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois, that the logo design process began. A year later, in 2018, Rivian’s now-iconic logo was unveiled to the public.
Rivian is built on the spirit of adventure, and its logo reflects that ethos. So grab your compass—and let’s explore the story behind the Rivian Compass.
The Compass
While some companies incorporate hidden meanings into their logos, Rivian’s design is more straightforward. Inspired by adventure, the Rivian logo features a distinctive squared-off compass, symbolizing the essence of adventure and exploration.
It represents the drive to go beyond the beaten path and forge new journeys where few have ventured. Just as the magnetic compass once revolutionized navigation, Rivian seeks to redefine how people explore today.
With its electric vehicles and cutting-edge technology, Rivian empowers people to experience the world sustainably and responsibly. By providing access to remote and wild places, Rivian inspires a deeper connection with nature and rekindles the thrill of adventure—something more essential than ever in today’s fast-paced world.
Breaking Down the Rivian Logo
Rivian’s logo features four arrows, each mirroring the many directions an adventure can take—north, south, east, west, and everywhere in between. It’s a visual commitment to exploration, reinforcing Rivian’s identity as the go-to EV brand for adventurers. With the R1S and R1T already among the best off-road vehicles available and the upcoming R2 and R3 promising to follow suit, that promise is well on its way.
According to Rivian, the outer north and south arrows symbolize their mission to make the world a better place through innovation and adventure, while the inner east and west arrows represent their goal to be both inspiring and inviting to everyone.
As Rivian puts it, a logo is more than just a design on a vehicle or a piece of swag—it’s a promise. A promise that no matter where your journey leads, Rivian will help point you in the right direction.
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The Rivian Commercial Van has gone by several names, including the Rivian Commercial Vehicle (RCV) and the Rivian Electric Delivery Vehicle (EDV). Now, Rivian seems to have finalized its naming strategy, officially branding it as the Rivian Commercial Van.
But the name change isn’t the biggest news—Rivian has officially opened early fleet orders for the 2025 RCV in two variants: the 500 Series and 700 Series. On February 5th, 2025, Rivian began inviting interested buyers to configure their fleet orders via email.
What is the RCV?
The Rivian Commercial Vehicle is an all-electric van designed for efficiently transporting goods over short to medium distances—all while ensuring cargo and fleet safety, security, and a touch of style. Best of all, as a modern EV, the RCV helps fleet owners reduce maintenance and fuel costs, making it a smart and sustainable choice for commercial operations.
The Purpose
Rivian Wave
The RCVis a purpose-built last-mile delivery van designed for efficiency and versatility. It features an automatic rear bulkhead door and an easily accessible curbside door, allowing for seamless deliveries whether streetside or at a loading dock. This flexibility enables businesses to streamline operations, potentially eliminating the need for a last-mile warehouse to transfer goods from larger vehicles to smaller ones.
Rivian offers the RCV in two variants: the RCV 500 and the RCV 700. The 500 is optimized for navigating city streets and tight urban environments, while the 700 provides expanded cargo space for businesses that require more capacity without compromising maneuverability in standard delivery routes.
Specs and Details
As previously mentioned, there are two specs to the RCV - the 500 and 700. The tables below provide all the key information you’ll need to understand what is offered with each vehicle. All information provided below is in imperial measurements first, while metric measurements are in parentheses.
Spec
RCV 500
RCV 700
Length
248.5” (6,311mm)
278” (7,061mm)
Max Width
96.4” (2,449mm)
103.5” (2629mm)
Height
114.7” (2914mm)
114.8” (2917mm)
Wheelbase
157.5” (4000mm)
187” (4,750mm)
Ground Clearance
6.7” (171mm)
6.9” (175mm)
Turning Circle
46.9 ft (14.3m)
53.9 ft (16.4m)
Cargo Area - Volume
487 cu. ft. (13.8m3)
652 cu. ft. (18.5m3)
Cargo Area Width x Length
(Max)
76.5” x 137.3”
(1,943mm x 3487mm)
83.6” x 166.8”
(2,213mm x 4,237mm)
Cargo Area - Height
(Door Closed)
82.6” (2,097mm)
82.6” (2,097mm)
Closures
Rear Door (Roll-Up)
Curbside Door (Sliding
Hinged Driver Door
Powered Bulkhead Door
Rear Door (Roll-Up)
Curbside Door (Sliding
Hinged Driver Door
Powered Bulkhead Door
Charge Port Location (CCS)
Front-left corner
Front-left corner
Curb Weight
6,837lbs (3,101kg)
7,242lbs (3,285kg)
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
9,500lbs (4,309kg)
9,500lbs (4,309kg)
Payload
2,663lbs (1,208kg)
2,258lbs (1,024kg)
Rivian is keeping things simple when it comes to drivetrain options for the RCV 500 and RCV 700—both models feature a single-motor, front-wheel-drive setup delivering 320 horsepower and 299 lb-ft of torque for a smooth yet capable drive.
Range figures are solid for urban and regional deliveries. The RCV 500 is rated at 161 miles (259 km) of range, while the larger RCV 700 comes in just slightly lower at 160 miles (256 km). As with most EPA estimates, real-world conditions—such as stop-and-go city traffic—may reduce range by 5-10%, though the impact is minimal for the van’s intended use.
Both models are powered by a 100 kWh LFP battery pack, supporting DC fast charging at 100 kW and AC charging at 11 kW. While these speeds aren’t groundbreaking, they’re well-suited for fleet operations, where vehicles can charge overnight and be ready to roll the next workday.
Amazon Contract
The Amazon Prime RCV.
Rivian Wave
Rivian has been working closely with Amazon to develop purpose-built last-mile delivery vehicles, starting with the Rivian EDV. Amazon continues to deploy additional RCVs, a strong indicator that the vehicle has reduced operating costs when compared to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vans.
With RCV production ramping up, Rivian is now in a position to supply more commercial fleet customers beyond Amazon. This expansion allows Rivian to tap into a market traditionally dominated by legacy automakers like Ford and Dodge. As Rivian scales production, its commercial van business is shaping up to be a major and sustainable revenue stream.
HelloFresh Contract
coz_13 on reddit
Several RCVs have already been spotted in HelloFresh and Factor liveries, suggesting that Rivian and HelloFresh are collaborating to test the RCV for meal package deliveries.
The first sightings of these branded RCVs date back to late December 2024, with additional vehicles appearing across the U.S. in the weeks since. Interestingly, rather than featuring HelloFresh’s primary branding, many of the vans showcase the Factor and Chef’s Plate trademarks—both subsidiaries of HelloFresh—hinting at broader future deployments.
Camper Vans?
Rivian Wave
Rivian’s consumer lineup is all about adventure, and what better way to explore than in a fully electric camper van? Introducing the RCV Camper Van—a concept that could redefine off-grid travel.
While Rivian hasn’t yet announced single-vehicle sales of the RCV, we’re hoping that changes soon, giving customers the opportunity to build their dream electric adventure van.
Imagine a Rivian Adventure Van equipped with a built-in washroom, an electric kitchen, and all the essentials for extended off-grid living. Whether you’re setting out for a weekend getaway or a months-long road trip, an RCV Camper would be the ultimate fusion of sustainability, innovation, and adventure—perfectly aligning with Rivian’s brand.
Pricing & Options
The interior of the RCV, with Rivian's 2-screen layout.
Rivian Wave
Rivian has set the starting price for the RCV 500 at $79,900 and the RCV 700 at $83,900. However, the full list of available options and final pricing with additional features remains unclear. That said, the baseline models appear to be well-equipped.
It’s likely that Rivian will offer fleet-specific additions, such as interior shelving and custom fleet wraps, which could increase the cost. The company has confirmed that the interior shelving is removable, but it’s still uncertain whether this will be an optional add-on or a standard feature in every RCV.
ADAS Features
Rivian is equipping every RCV with Driver+ assistance features, including lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control for highways where Driver+ is available, along with Rivian’s full suite of safety features.
However, the company has not yet confirmed whether full Driver+ autonomy will be available on the RCV. That said, the vehicle’s camera and sensor setup appear similar to what’s found on the R1T and R1S, suggesting it may have the necessary hardware for advanced capabilities in the future.
Rivian's full ADAS feature set on the RCV is comparable to that on the R1T and R1S.
Rivian Wave
RCV 900?
The RCV 900 was previously mentioned during Rivian’s early development of its electric commercial van, but it hasn’t been seen or referenced in several years. While Rivian could revive the model, it seems unlikely at this stage.
If the RCV 900 were to return, it would likely feature a longer length and wheelbase, offering increased storage capacity but potentially less range.
For now, we don’t expect to see the RCV 900 make a comeback—but since it once existed on paper, there’s always a chance it could reemerge in the future.
Release Date
Rivian has announced that deliveries will begin in April for its early access fleet customers, with public orders opening soon after.
However, it’s unclear whether public orders will be limited to fleet buyers or if individual customers will also have the opportunity to purchase. The versatility of the RCV opens the door to countless creative uses—whether as a food truck, camper van, or even a mobile stargazing platform—and we’re sure enthusiasts are already dreaming up even more possibilities.
Given Rivian’s focus on commercial customers, we expect fleet orders to take priority, with individual orders rolling out gradually as production scales and supply chains stabilize.
Have a unique vision for the RCV? Share your ideas with us on social media.
Rivian and Volkswagen released an update to their Joint Venture, which was announced in June of this year. In the original announcement, Volkswagen promised to invest $5 billion in Rivian—$1 billion immediately and another $4 billion over time—for an equally controlled and owned joint venture.
“The partnership with Rivian is the next logical step in strengthening our global competitive and technological position.”
-- Oliver Blume, CEO of Volkswagen
The goals were to help Rivian reduce its cost per vehicle, while also helping Volkswagen with software and zonal control technology. This collaboration presents an incredible opportunity for Rivian, positioning its technology and software as the foundation for future EVs developed through the joint venture. Crucially, Rivian retains its intellectual property rights, opening up a substantial new revenue stream for the company.
JV Update
The JV has been updated with a total deal size of up to $5.8 billion now—which is an addition of another $800 million to the original proposal. Rivian and Volkswagen will send engineers to join the JV, which will be co-headed by Rivian’s Wassym Bensaid and Volkswagen’s Carsten Helbing. Both will take on the title of co-CEO at the JV.
“We’re thrilled to see our technology being integrated in vehicles outside Rivian – this is an important enabler to help accelerate EV adoption.”
-- RJ Scaringe, CEO of Rivian
The primary purpose of the JV is to start working on the electric architecture—that Zonal control—and the software for what Volkswagen calls “next-generation Software Defined Vehicles,” or SDVs. The JV will officially start on November 13th, 2024, with both companies beginning contributions to the JV on that date.
The best part? The JV focuses on more than just one market segment - it includes subcompact cars. That means a mass-market vehicle that’ll be built upon Rivian’s proven tech and software will one day be available - pushed forward by Volkswagen’s mass-market scale.
The JV will be based in Palo Alto, California, as well as some other sites in North America and Europe - for a total of up to four sites. It’ll be a chance for engineers from both companies to get together and figure out how to best leverage what both companies have to offer and build an appealing set of products.
JV Focuses
With the primary focus being on using Rivian’s pre-existing architecture and software stack, the R2 platform is a clear starting point for the JV - one of its key purposes will be to bootstrap the launch of the R2 in early 2026, and then go on to support the R3, and further Volkswagen vehicles sometime in 2027 and 2028.
Scaling Rivian’s technology will be challenging. While Rivian’s tech is modular, flexible, and highly capable, these advanced features come with a high price tag. To make vehicles that are both high-performing and affordable, the joint venture will need to focus on reducing costs without compromising on capability.
Interestingly, the JV also mentions automated driving functions - so we can probably expect Rivian’s Autonomy Platform to be present on these new vehicles as well - alongside a specific focus on OTA updates.
Rivian and Volkswagen have supposedly already built a driveable demonstrator vehicle, a Volkswagen car built to run on Rivian’s hardware and software, which sounds a lot like Scout…
We’re excited to see where this JV goes and how it helps shape Rivian, Rivian’s software platform, and the future of EVs.