Ford EV Rival Rivian Inks Deal With LG For Batteries

Ford currently gets EV batteries from a handful of companies, including LG Energy, though those two have expanded their partnership in a big way as of late. Along with announcing that LG’s extended-range Ford Mustang Mach-E battery production will move from Poland to the U.S. (a move that will make the crossover eligible for the federal clean energy tax credit), The Blue Oval also recently revealed that LG will supply batteries for Ford commercial vehicles in Europe in the coming years, too. Now, a Ford EV rival – Rivian – has also signed a new deal with LG, too.

LG Energy Solution Arizona – a subsidiary of LG Energy Solution – just signed a supply agreement with Rivian that will result in the automaker receiving 67 GWh of 4695 cylindrical batteries over the next five years. These next-generation batteries are touted as offering up both long range and plenty of safety, with six times the capacity of existing 2170 cylindrical batteries – thanks to their higher energy density. These batteries will be eventually manufactured at LG Energy Solution’s stand-alone plant in Arizona, and then delivered to the Rivian plant in Normal, Illinois.

“Due to the dynamic nature of the current EV market, an increasing number of global automakers are demonstrating a strong preference for a diverse range of battery form factors,” said David Kim, CEO of LG Energy Solution. “This large-scale order from Rivian for 4695 batteries marks a key milestone for LG Energy Solution in expanding its client base within the cylindrical battery segment.”

These batteries will be used in the forthcoming Rivian R2, a model that was revealed back in March as a direct Ford Mustang Mach-E rival, ironically enough. The R2 is smaller and significantly cheaper than the existing R2 SUV, and is expected to offer at least 300 miles of range with a starting price tag of around $45,000 when it debuts in the first half of 2026.