Rivian vehicles have traditionally featured a sleek, curved design, typical of consumer electronics. However, Rivian has shown that they are also capable of producing vehicles with more angular and aggressive aesthetics, as demonstrated by the newly unveiled commercial step-van expected to hit North American roads soon.
The distinct appearance of this van, resembling an intense-looking Jeep Wrangler that has undergone anger management training, is the result of a collaboration between Rivian and the established commercial vehicle manufacturer Morgan Olson, as reported by Fleet Owner. Morgan Olson, previously known as Grumman Olson and responsible for producing the USPS’s Grumman LLV mail trucks, is now under the ownership of JB Poindexter & Co, a commercial vehicle conglomerate serving companies like Fedex and UPS. Chances are high that you might have encountered the C250 step-van body before, albeit without this distinctive façade, and certainly not as a Rivian Amazon van.
Morgan Olson C250E electric step-van. Morgan Olson
Indeed, this vehicle is built on the Rivian Commercial Van platform, equipped with a 100 kilowatt-hour LFP battery and Rivian’s proprietary interface and software stack. Adapted into the Morgan Olson C250E, this vehicle is slated for service with Canada Post for delivering packages and mail within urban areas of Canada, featuring a right-hand drive configuration.
Given its ties to major package carriers in the U.S., it’s likely that the C250E will also see deployment in the States. This Rivian-powered step-van could be just the inaugural model in a series of vehicles resulting from the collaboration.
“We anticipate utilizing [the Rivian chassis] for various vehicle configurations or developing prototypes with specific clients interested in this combination of technology,” stated John Poindexter, the CEO of JB Poindexter & Co, in an interview with Fleet Owner.
Some potential applications include commercial vehicles with weight ratings below 10,000 pounds, such as grocery delivery vans. By tapping into this diverse market, Rivian’s reported desire for expansion beyond its contract with Amazon, which could have limited its growth in the van market segment, becomes clearer. With demand for premium electric vehicles stabilizing and the launch of the R2 still distant, Rivian cannot afford to turn down new revenue streams, even if the end product may not be visually appealing.
Do you have a tip or question for the author? Feel free to contact them at: james@thedrive.com
