Toronto, Ontario – In this week’s electric and autonomous vehicle report, Rivian plans to build a $5 billion assembly plant in Georgia, Mercedes-Benz integrates with Hydro-Québec to improve charging options and GM’s BrightDrop delivered its first five EV delivery trucks to FedEx.
Rivian went down to Georgia
Rivian has a $5 billion plan for the peach state in the form of a second U.S.-based assembly plant scheduled to open in Georgia in 2024.
The company expects to employ 7,500 people at the plant and eventually reach production levels of 400,000 vehicles a year.
Rivian debuted on the NASDAQ last month with a market value of nearly $93 billion USD. Amazon and Ford hold significant stakes in Rivian, at 20 and 12 percent respectively.
Rivian R1T pickups and R1S electric SUVs are due to be delivered to customers beginning in March.
Benz Branching Out
Mercedes-Benz’s Mercedes me Charge ecosystem has been integrated with Hydro-Québec’s Electric Circuit network to expand charging options in Quebec and Eastern Ontario.
This integration with Hydro-Québec will make Mercedes’ EQ series of EVs accessible to an additional 3,300 charging stations, including more than 500 DC fast-charging stations, located in parking lots across the region.
According to Mercedes, the EQS 580 4MATIC sedan is capable of DC fast-charging up to 200 kW, which can charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in approximately 31 minutes.
Electric Express
General Motors subsidiary BrightDrop announced the delivery of the first five of 500 EV600 delivery trucks on their way to FedEx to join the company’s fleet, on Friday
“The delivery of the first BrightDrop EV600s is a historic moment, born out of a spirit of collaboration between two leading American companies,” said chief sustainability officer at FedEx Mitch Jackson.
“At FedEx, transforming our pickup and delivery fleet to electric vehicles is integral to achieving our ambitious sustainability goals announced earlier this year. This collaborative effort shows how businesses can take action to help usher in a lower-emissions future for all.”
FedEx aims to make all of its global operations carbon neutral by 2040.
