EVwire brief: Rivian will install more than 150 public DC fast chargers across Caruso properties in Southern California over the next year as part of an expanded multi-year partnership. The agreement also broadens Rivian’s physical and experiential presence across the portfolio.
Key elements of the deal include:
150+ Rivian Adventure Network (RAN) chargers deployed across Caruso locations, open to all EVs and powered by renewable energy
Two new Rivian showrooms opening in 2026
Portfolio-wide ride-and-drive events and vehicle displays
Free parking for Rivian owners enrolled in Caruso Signature
Continued presenting sponsorship of the annual “Christmas at The Grove” event
Jackie Levy, Chief Financial and Revenue Officer at Caruso, noted that Rivian is an ideal partner for the initiative:
"Over time, we’ve been approached by countless EV charging companies to have a footprint on our properties. But for us, it’s finding partners with aligned interests, and we feel like Rivian has those aligned interests.”
Caruso shared the update on its LinkedIn page:
Context:
The expansion builds on Rivian’s existing footprint at The Grove in Los Angeles and The Americana at Brand in Glendale.
According to a press release, Rivian’s two new showroom locations planned for 2026 include The Americana at Brand and The Commons at Calabasas. These spaces are designed as gallery-style environments focused on curated experiences.
The charger rollout will take place over the next 12 months across Caruso destinations in Los Angeles, Glendale, Calabasas, Marina del Rey, and Thousand Oaks, alongside ongoing activations such as demo drives and vehicle displays.
The deal includes RAN chargers that are open even to non-Rivian vehicles
Marc Navarro, Senior Manager of Real Estate at Rivian, framed the partnership around shared priorities in customer experience and location strategy:
“Their properties are leaders in the industry, not just for their daily traffic, but for their intentional focus on customer experience, hospitality and business variety. By incorporating charging, retail spaces and experiential marketing activations into their portfolio, we can better support the Rivian community and future owners.”
Levy positioned the integration as an extension of its retail model.
“With two new Rivian showrooms and more than 150 public DC fast chargers planned across our properties, this partnership enhances the first-class retail experience while adding meaningful convenience for our guests.”
Rivian’s upcoming spaces are designed as gallery-style environments
Caruso’s timing aligns with Rivian’s next production phase
Rivian said discussions with Caruso began more than a year ago, but the agreement ultimately aligns with the rollout of its midsize platform, led by the upcoming R2.
As per Navarro:
“This agreement comes at a great time.”
Rivian is expected to scale the R2 significantly. To make this possible, Rivian drastically simplified the R2’s architecture, eliminating 2.3 miles of wiring compared to earlier designs and reducing overall part complexity through large high-pressure die castings.
At the factory level, Rivian is pairing that simplified design with a digitally driven production system. The company built a “digital twin” of its plant to simulate and refine the production line before physical deployment.
The result is a production system targeting up to 155,000 R2 units annually.
Source: Caruso, Los Angeles Business Journal
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