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Rivian launches Commercial Van for more than just Amazon

Credit: Rivian

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After initially developing the electric delivery van (EDV) exclusively for Amazon, Rivian has announced plans to offer the vehicle to additional commercial customers.

Rivian launched the commercial van in a press release on Tuesday, and the vehicle is set to become available to U.S. businesses as soon as next year. Built on the same platform as the Amazon EDV, the commercial van will be offered in two sizes, and Rivian says it plans to begin with small-scale orders in 2024 before scaling deliveries in 2025.

The vans are also expected to save millions of metric tons of carbon annually, and the expanded offerings come in addition to Amazon’s plans to put 100,000 Rivian EDVs on roads by 2030.

“Around a quarter of CO2 emitted in the US transportation sector comes from commercial vans,” Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said in the press release. “We can make a real difference in helping businesses reduce their carbon output, to help make our cities and our planet less polluted.”

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According to Rivian’s Fleet page, the smaller Delivery 500 starts at $83,000 per unit and has an estimated range of 161 miles, while the larger Delivery 700 starts at $87,000 per unit and is estimated to offer up to 153 miles in range. Those who are interested in purchasing a batch of the electric commercial vans for their company can contact Rivian’s fleet sales team.

The Delivery 500 has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 9,350 pounds, a 2,734-pound payload and a wheelbase measuring 157.5 inches. Meanwhile, the Delivery 700 has a 9,500-pound GVWR, a 2,513-pound payload and a wheelbase of 187 inches.

You can see the full specs for both configurations below.

Credit: Rivian

Credit: Rivian

Credit: Rivian

The vans are set to include a sliding curb-side door, a roll-up door on the rear and an automated bulk-head door. Interior features include a 15.6-inch touch display, a 360-degree camera system, a temperature-controlled driver’s seat and a heated steering wheel.

The automaker also says the vans will include its in-house software, which will be used to control everything from locking and unlocking the vehicle and opening the bulk-head door to charging and some acceleration controls. Along with these controls, Rivian says the software gives drivers and companies easy access to fleet information such as real-time data, remote commands, driver and vehicle insights and other analytic details.

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Amazon reported last month that it had received more than 10,000 of Rivian’s delivery vans, adding that the vehicles are now operational in 1,800 U.S. cities. Rivian was spotted testing its smaller EDV 500 back in March, as seen under a covering on public U.S. roads. The company also launched its first batch of the Amazon vans in Europe in July, beginning with Germany.

Rivian is progressing toward profitability, says CEO

What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send your tips to us at tips@teslarati.com.

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Zach is a renewable energy reporter who has been covering electric vehicles since 2020. He grew up in Fremont, California, and he currently lives in Colorado. His work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, KRON4 San Francisco, FOX31 Denver, InsideEVs, CleanTechnica, and many other publications. When he isn't covering Tesla or other EV companies, you can find him writing and performing music, drinking a good cup of coffee, or hanging out with his cats, Banks and Freddie. Reach out at zach@teslarati.com, find him on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.

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Tesla Cybercab specs revealed: range, curb weight, range ratings, and more

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(Credit: Teslarati)

Tesla’s Cybercab has taken a significant step toward production with new technical details emerging from 2026 EPA certification documents.

The filings, which include a Certificate of Conformity issued in late May, provide the most comprehensive public look yet at the purpose-built autonomous vehicle designed for high-volume, low-cost ride-hailing operations.

At its core, the Cybercab is a front-wheel-drive electric vehicle powered by a single 163 kW (219 horsepower) AC permanent magnet motor. Despite its modest output, prioritizing efficiency and cost over neck-snapping acceleration, the vehicle boasts a strong power-to-weight ratio thanks to its lightweight curb weight of 3,113 pounds and a GVWR of 3,730 pounds.

It operates on a 326-volt electrical architecture with a compact ~48 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The standout revelation is the vehicle’s exceptional efficiency, which Tesla has routinely flexed in the past.

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EPA lab tests list an equivalent all-electric range of 418 miles combined and 375 miles on the highway. Tesla has previously targeted around 300 miles of real-world range, and analysts expect the final EPA-rated figure to land near 280-300 miles after adjustment factors.

At a certified 165 Wh/mi in earlier testing, the Cybercab is reportedly the most efficient EV ever produced, significantly outperforming vehicles like the Lucid Air Pure.

This efficiency stems from deliberate design choices tailored for robotaxi duty. The two-seater features a highly aerodynamic shape, minimal weight, which is aided by structural battery integration of what are likely 4680 cells, and no steering wheel or pedals in its fully autonomous configuration.

For ride-hailing fleets, where average trips are short, and can be just five or ten miles, the smaller battery enables faster charging cycles, lower material costs, and reduced vehicle price, a key to Tesla’s goal of a ~$30,000 production cost.

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Implications for Autonomous Mobility

These specs underscore Tesla’s strategy: maximize utilization and minimize operating expenses. A ~48 kWh pack could support dozens of short rides per charge, with energy costs potentially dropping below 20 cents per mile at scale. Front-wheel drive simplifies manufacturing and maintenance compared to dual-motor AWD setups in passenger Teslas.

The 219 hp motor provides ample performance for urban and highway speeds without excess, addressing questions about why such power is needed in a “slow” autonomous vehicle. Quick merges and hill climbing still matter for safety and passenger comfort.

Production has already begun at Giga Texas, with EPA certification clearing the path for U.S. deployment. While unsupervised Full Self-Driving remains the critical hurdle, these details paint a compelling picture of a vehicle engineered from the ground up for the robotaxi future: affordable to build, cheap to run, and capable of delivering strong range on a fraction of the battery capacity found in today’s EVs.

As Tesla ramps toward volume output, the Cybercab could reshape urban transportation economics.

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Tesla Cybercab snags huge regulatory green light that readies it for public roads

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla Cybercab, the all-electric ride-hailing-geared vehicle void of a steering wheel and pedals, has achieved a significant regulatory milestone. The vehicle has officially secured an EPA Certificate of Conformity for the 2026 Cybercab, classifying it as a battery electric Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV).

This certification confirms full compliance with federal Clean Air Act emission standards, paving the way for legal sales and operation across the United States.

A Certificate of Conformity (CoC) is a critical document issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to vehicle manufacturers. It certifies that a specific class of vehicles meets all applicable federal emission requirements for the model year.

We have reported on several of them in the past, and it’s a good sign that a vehicle is close to being available to the public.

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Every vehicle sold in the U.S. must carry this approval, which covers exhaust emissions, evaporative emissions, and refueling standards. For battery electric vehicles like the Cybercab, it verifies zero tailpipe emissions and compliance with stringent testing protocols. The certificate, issued and effective May 26, 2026, was part of the EPA’s recent bi-weekly upload, detailing the Cybercab’s evaporative/refueling family and exhaust compliance.

It also revealed some other very important information, as the Cybercab’s “Charge Depleting Range” was rated at just over 418 miles. This was for city driving, while the highway range depletion test revealed just over 375 miles of range:

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This EPA approval is a foundational step for Tesla’s autonomous ambitions. While emission certification is standard for any new EV, it signals that the Cybercab is progressing through the full federal compliance process.

Tesla has already equipped prototypes with federal compliance stickers affirming adherence to safety, bumper, and theft-prevention standards via self-certification under FMVSS rules. This bypasses the traditional 2,500-vehicle exemption cap that previously constrained low-volume autonomous testing.

Production of the Cybercab ramped up at Giga Texas starting in early 2026, with volume targets aiming for hundreds of units per week and long-term ambitions of millions annually. The two-seater, steer-by-wire vehicle, lacking a steering wheel and pedals, features a sleek, minimalist design optimized for Robotaxi service.

Tesla Cybercab gets crazy change as mass production begins

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Priced under $30,000 at unveiling, it promises operating costs as low as $0.20–$0.40 per mile once scaled. Tesla has routinely flexed it as one of the most efficient vehicles of all time.

Regulatory progress extends beyond the EPA. The NHTSA has streamlined approvals for control-free vehicles, benefiting the Cybercab. Tesla operates supervised and unsupervised Robotaxi services in Texas cities like Austin, Dallas, and Houston using its fleet. California recently updated rules for driverless operations, including enforcement mechanisms for violations. Additional state-by-state approvals will be needed for nationwide rollout.

This EPA green light reduces a key barrier, building confidence among regulators, partners, and investors.

It underscores Tesla’s strategy of designing the Cybercab from the ground up for full compliance rather than retrofitting existing platforms. Challenges remain in scaling unsupervised autonomy, mapping approvals, and public acceptance, but the certification marks tangible momentum toward transforming urban mobility.

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With prototypes already testing on public roads and production accelerating, the Cybercab edges closer to redefining transportation. Tesla’s integrated approach—combining hardware simplicity, software prowess, and regulatory diligence—positions it uniquely in the robotaxi race.

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SpaceX soars with its first launch as a public company, marking a new era

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Credit: SpaceX

SpaceX executed its first Falcon 9 launch since going public on June 15, a routine yet symbolically powerful Starlink mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

Liftoff of the Falcon 9 booster B1093, on its 14th flight, occurred at approximately 8:34 a.m. PDT from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E), deploying 24 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites into low-Earth orbit.

The first stage successfully landed on the droneship “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean, underscoring the company’s unmatched reusability track record.

This mission comes just three days after SpaceX’s historic IPO on June 12, which shattered records as the largest ever. The company raised $75 billion by pricing shares at $135, with trading under ticker SPCX on Nasdaq opening at $150 and closing at $160.95—a 19 percent gain—valuing SpaceX at over $2.1 trillion.

The launch highlights the seamless transition from private innovator to public powerhouse. SpaceX, founded in 2002, has revolutionized access to space with over 650 Falcon 9 flights and a massive Starlink constellation now serving millions globally.

As a public company, it faces new pressures: quarterly earnings, shareholder scrutiny, and expectations to accelerate Starship development for Mars ambitions and deeper NASA partnerships. Yet the market response signals strong confidence in its dominance, as launch costs are slashed by 95 percent, rapid satellite deployment, and a backlog of government and commercial contracts.

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SpaceX maintains bold advertising push for Starlink, contrasting Tesla’s minimalistic approach

Analysts view today’s flight as business as usual, but it carries extra weight. With shares volatile in early trading days, successful operations reassure investors that core capabilities remain unaffected by public status.

SpaceX now operates under heightened transparency, potentially unlocking capital for ambitious goals like Starship orbital tests and global broadband expansion.

Challenges loom, including regulatory hurdles for megaconstellations, competition in reusable rockets, and orbital debris concerns. Nevertheless, this morning’s flawless execution reinforces SpaceX’s trajectory.

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As Musk often notes, the company’s mission—to make humanity multiplanetary—now aligns with Wall Street’s growth demands. The stars, it seems, are aligning for both.

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