Amazon-backed Rivian scouts manufacturing sites in EU and UK

Rivian already has an order for 100,000 Amazon electric vans

Credit: Rivian

An Amazon-backed electric vehicle maker is scouting potential locations in the UK to build a new factory, it has been reported.

Rivian, which produces electric pick-up trucks and SUVs, is also looking at locations in Germany and Hungry, Bloomberg said on Thursday, citing unnamed sources.

The chosen site will first manufacture a delivery van for Amazon before moving on to producing Rivian models for consumers. The US firm is also looking at sites for the factory beyond Europe.

Rivian has hired commercial real estate company JLL to lead the search with the carmaker hoping to begin production as soon as next year.

A Rivian R1S SUV

Credit: Reuters

The California-based firm is planning to start deliveries of a pickup model in June followed by an SUV in August.

Rivian is viewed as a disruptor in the automotive industry. It already has an order of 100,000 electric delivery vans from Amazon. The ecommerce giant expects a tenth of the vans to be on the roads by 2022. Production of the vans is expected to start later in the year in Illinois.

Talks of a new factory follow reports that Rivian is looking to go public at a valuation of $50bn or more. It was reported this week that Rivian has been in talks with bankers about the plans but that a final date has yet to be agreed.

The company has raised more than $8bn to date and counts Amazon, Ford, T Rowe Price, and BlackRock among its backers. It is believed to have been valued at around $27.6bn in its last funding round.

Rivian is expected to launch in Europe and the UK in 2022 with right-hand drive sales. A guide price of its R1S SUV has been tipped to be around £70,000.

​The Telegraph has reached out to Rivian, Amazon, and JLL for comment.