Rivian has reportedly built up a significant stockpile of tariff-free batteries, aiming to mitigate the impact of tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump. According to recent reports, Rivian accumulated the battery reserves both before and after Trump’s election victory. This strategic move was intended to ease financial pressure resulting from tariff initiatives that target automotive component imports.
Initially, Rivian sourced lithium iron phosphate batteries in significant quantities from Chinese battery manufacturer Gotion, stocking up ahead of anticipated tariff increases. These batteries are primarily intended for use in Rivian’s commercial vehicles, including its popular delivery vans, most of which are manufactured for Amazon.
Following Trump’s election, Rivian also collaborated with Samsung SDI, shifting a considerable volume of battery stock from South Korea to storage within the United States, further extending its inventory of tariff-free battery supplies. The exact quantity of batteries Rivian procured has not been publicly disclosed.
Trump’s recently revised tariff plans, while less severe than original proposals to impose a flat 25% rate on imported automotive components, are still expected to lead to notable price increases for parts imported into the U.S. automotive market. Rivian’s proactive battery acquisition strategy positions the electric vehicle maker well, potentially insulating it from some cost pressures anticipated by other automobile manufacturers.
