Samsara Partners With Rivian to Aid Fleet Management
[Stay on top of transportation news: .]
Telematics vendor Samsara is teaming up with electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian, the companies said May 20.
Fleet owners with Rivian vehicles, including the Rivian Commercial Van, will now be able to monitor the performance of the rolling stock on the Samsara Platform.
Customers will be able to access data via a single platform alongside other fleet assets; obtain real-time insights into vehicle location, condition and use; and simplified operations, the companies said.
“Samsara is committed to providing our customers with a unified platform that simplifies their operations and empowers them to make data-driven decisions,” said Tom McNeela, vice president of hardware product management at Samsara.
“We are excited to partner with Rivian to streamline access to their vehicle data, enabling our customers to more effectively manage their electric fleets and accelerate the transition to sustainable transportation,” McNeela added.
The partnership addresses the evolving needs of businesses managing diverse fleets, Samsara said.
Similar programs are available for 23 brands, including truck makers International Motors and Mack Trucks, a Samsara spokesman told Transport Topics.
Rivian offers two commercial vehicle models: the Delivery 500 and Delivery 700. Each has an estimated range of 160 miles and a gross vehicle weight rating of 9,500 pounds. The Delivery 500 has a cargo space of 487 cubic feet, and the Delivery 700 boasts a cargo space of 652 cubic feet.
A Rivian Amazon electric van charges at a station outside a company warehouse. (Chona Kasinger/Bloomberg News)
The commercial vehicles were initially designed solely for Amazon.com Inc. Amazon ranks No. 1 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest logistics companies in North America, No. 12 on the TT Top 100 private carriers list and No. 1 on the TT Top 50 global freight carriers list.
Amazon, a Rivian shareholder, has a contract to take 100,000 vans from the EV maker by 2030.
In February, Rivian said other fleet owners would be able to order the delivery vans. On April 16, Rivian announced a partnership with HelloFresh to incorporate 70 Rivian vans into the meal kit specialist’s delivery fleet.
Delivery of the vans is expected to start before the end of 2025.
“Rivian is focused on providing our commercial customers with solutions that make it easier to manage their fleets,” said Tom Solomon, vice president of business development at Rivian.
“Our collaboration with Samsara provides a streamlined approach to securely accessing vehicle data, empowering businesses to optimize their fleet operations and improve overall efficiency,” Solomon added.
In the first quarter of 2025, Rivian produced 14,611 vehicles at its manufacturing facility in Normal, Ill., and delivered 8,640 vehicles.
A Volkswagen electric vehicle at a Rivian charging station in San Francisco. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg News)
Rivian secured an initial $1 billion investment from Traton Group parent company Volkswagen, the company said May 6 when releasing its first-quarter earnings.
The German automaker could invest as much as $5.8 billion in a joint venture with Rivian to develop software and electric vehicle architecture, the companies said in June 2024 when announcing the partnership.
Want more news? Listen to today's daily briefing belowor go here for more info:
