(GV Wire Video/Jahz Tello)
- Electric-auto maker Rivian opens a service center in Fresno.
- The center is the first to open in the area, with the nearest ones in Burbank and San Jose.
- The center could bring $23 million in economic activity, says Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer.
Share
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
A first for hundreds of miles around the city, electric-vehicle maker Rivian has opened a service center, dealership, and demo center in Fresno.
June 2 marked the first day in Fresno for the company, which formerly has its nearest service center in San Jose, said Ara Sarkisyan, service operations manager for Rivian.
A ribbon-cutting on Friday celebrated a partnership between the EV maker and city officials that began with preliminary talks in early 2023, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said.
“It took some time to be able to get them here, but we have them here now,” Dyer said.
For Rivian owners, it means getting nearly all auto work and maintenance done in Fresno. For prospective buyers, it means having a test drive center, Sarkisyan said.
Those ready to buy can have vehicles — including the new Rivian R2 truck — delivered to the 16,000-square-foot warehouse at 4507 N. Selland Ave.
“Now we can service the existing customers that don’t have to drive to San Jose or Burbank, and also with the launch of R2 coming in the beginning of 2026, with any new customers, they’ll be able to have the comfort of being able to go to a service center that’s very close,” Sarkisyan said.
$23 Million Economic Impact
Right now, the service center employs 10 people. Soon, they’ll add sales staff, Sarkisyan said.
Sarkisyan said they get many customers from the Central Valley and the Central Coast.
“It’s growing very fast and there’s a lot of customers that are in town and they’re in pockets. They’re everywhere, but there’s a lot,” Sarkisyan said.
For Fresno, the warehouse means a draw for a significant portion of the state, said Dyer. It brings logistics and builds supply chains, he said. They service about 30 to 50 vehicles a week, Dyer said.
“You’re going to have an economic impact of over $23 million for Fresno, and that’s big,” Dyer said. “This was a vacant building before, now it’s filled, we’re getting property tax, there are sales taxes involved. Those monies coming into the city now we can support services like police, fire, roads, and parks.”
The building Rivian moved into was formerly a SunRun solar facility.
RELATED TOPICS:
