Rivian has hired a chief engineer for its commercial van platform as it prepares to expand a lineup it co-developed with Amazon starting in 2019 and opened to third-party fleet customers exactly a year ago.
Hensler announced he was rejoining the US EV maker via LinkedIn on Sunday.
“This role represents the kind of challenge I care deeply about — complex vehicle development, meaningful products, and the opportunity to keep growing as a technical leader alongside people who push each other to get better every day,” he wrote.
Hensler spent nearly four years at Rivian‘s Michigan offices — from September 2021 to July 2025 — in three director-level roles focused on thermal and powertrain systems.
He joined as Director of HVAC Products, later moved to Director of Program Management for Powertrain and Thermal, and most recently served as Director of Thermal Systems Development.
Hensler left in mid-2025 to join General Motors as a Thermal Propulsion Integration Director — and returns roughly eight months later.
Thermal management regulates temperatures across batteries, motors, and power electronics to protect range, charging speed, and long-term durability.
“I spent four years working across much of the propulsion systems, and now it’s time to tackle the full vehicle,” Hensler wrote.
EDV Development
In his new role, Hensler will serve as both Vehicle Line Director and Chief Engineer for the EDV, which Rivian co-developed with Amazon starting in 2019.
“The Amazon delivery van platform is a unique opportunity to work on a product that will have real impact — influencing how millions of packages move every day while advancing the transition to electrification,” the engineer wrote.
Rivian currently offers the van in two variants.
The EDV 700, the original model, provides an estimated range of 160 miles and approximately 652 cubic feet (18.5 cubic meters) of cargo space.
The smaller EDV 500, launched in 2023, offers roughly 487 cubic feet (13.8 cubic meters).
Both companies said at the time that the EDV 500 was designed as a shorter, thinner van to better fit European cities.
The EDV 500 is also used by Rivian‘s Mobile Service team, which provides on-location support for passenger vehicle and commercial fleet customers.
EDV 500 units were spotted at Amazon facilities in Indiana late last year, sparking rumours that they could be supplied to the retailer’s service partners.
Commercial Fleets
Rivian opened orders for both its EDV 500 and 700 to businesses exactly a year ago, expanding its reach beyond Amazon, which bought 100,000 electric delivery vans from the company in 2019.
For new customers, the vans are priced from $79,900 and $83,900, depending on the size.
Since February 2025, the brand has officially announced its first client, HelloFresh, and a deal with the pizza delivery firm Slice.
Although the company has not officially announced any other deals, other branded vans have been spotted, suggesting that local businesses are making small purchases.
In mid-October, a Rivian electric delivery van bearing a Cintas Corp. logo was spotted, suggesting the US uniform and safety supplier may be testing the vehicle or has become a commercial fleet customer.
Illinois-based maintenance company Wm. Masters has also purchased (at least) one of these vans.
Global logistics giant DHL was also seen piloting Rivian’s vans in mid-2024, though no purchase agreement has been announced.
New Variants
Hensler’s appointment comes as Rivian expands its commercial van lineup.
Last month, the company announced in its full-year shareholder letter that it is developing new EDV variants with a larger battery pack and All-Wheel Drive.
The current models are Front-Wheel Drive with a standard battery.
The larger battery provides a 30% increase in range, while AWD improves traction in conditions like mud and snow.
Rivian said the new variants will expand EDV route coverage within Amazon‘s delivery network.
It remains unclear whether the new variants will retain the existing sizes or introduce different dimensions.
2025 Sales
Last year, Rivian delivered at least 15,000 EDVs to Amazon, considering the retail giant’s disclosures.
However, sales figures revealed by Cox Automotive last month showed that the number of EDVs registered across the US in 2025 fell 27% year over year to just under 10,000 units.
The company also delivers these vans in Canada and in Europe, though on a much smaller scale.
Rivian is guiding deliveries between 62,000 and 67,000 vehicles this year, of which 18,000 to 22,000 are expected to be in the first half of the year.
Speaking about the volume distribution in its lineup in the second half, CFO Claire McDonough said that the company “expects to see the continuation of the ramp of R2, coupled with the ongoing deliveries of our commercial van as well as R1.”
“On a full year basis, you can think about the R1 coupled with the commercial van being roughly in line with our 2025 total volumes,” she added.
EDV Share
The figures indicate that the company estimates EDV sales to represent about 15–16% of its volume in 2026, if considering registrations of around 10,000 units.
During the earnings call, Goldman Sachs analyst Mark Delaney pressed on what CFO Claire McDonough had described as “flattish volumes” expectations for the EDV.
Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe said the company expects “some growth” in EDV demand this year, adding that the new variants will “help unlock specific use cases within the Amazon network.”
“We’re working really closely with Amazon in defining the requirements of those and excited to get those launched,” Scaringe said. “The relationship with Amazon continues to be very positive. And certainly, the EDV continues to perform extremely well.”
Delaney’s follow-up question about when to expect the new commercial product was left unanswered.
