Electric vehicle maker Rivian quietly stocked up on battery cells from China’s Gotion and South Korea’s Samsung SDI before the U.S. imposed new tariffs. According to sources, this was a smart move to avoid future supply delays and higher costs due to changing trade rules.
The Gotion batteries will be used in Amazon’s electric delivery vans, while Samsung SDI batteries are reserved for Rivian’s pickup trucks and SUVs — all made at its Illinois factory. Rivian paid for shipping in advance and is storing the extra batteries as backup.
Looking ahead, the company is also planning long-term supply deals for its new R2 vehicle line. It will start with batteries from LG Energy Solution (Korea) and later shift to U.S. production in Arizona to meet tax credit rules under the Inflation Reduction Act.
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