Shopping for a new outfit and a full battery is about to get a lot easier in Los Angeles. Rivian and developer Caruso have inked a multi-year deal to install more than 150 DC fast chargers across Caruso’s Southern California properties, along with two new Rivian showrooms at major shopping centers.
The rollout, detailed in a press release via Caruso, is part of Rivian’s Adventure Network and is slated to come online over the next year. The plan calls for public DC fast chargers at high-traffic malls, apartments, and resorts, plus ride-and-drive activations and other hands-on experiences. The companies say every station will run on 100% renewable energy and will be open to all electric-vehicle drivers, not just Rivian owners.
The partnership also brings two gallery-style Rivian showrooms to The Commons at Calabasas and The Americana at Brand, adding a bit of EV window-shopping to the usual retail mix. Ongoing ride-and-drive events are on the agenda, and Rivian owners enrolled in the Caruso Signature program will continue to receive free annual parking at Caruso properties, according to the same Caruso release. Rivian will also remain a presenting partner for Caruso’s annual holiday event at The Grove.
"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," Jackie Levy, Caruso's chief financial and revenue officer, said in the press release via Caruso. Marc Navarro, Rivian's senior manager of real estate, said the collaboration lets Rivian "meet our customers where they already live, where they already shop, and where they already gather."
Where the chargers will appear and who can use them
Caruso is not yet spelling out a charger-by-charger roadmap. The developer has not released a detailed site map or specific installation list, according to the Los Angeles Times. Still, the company’s portfolio offers obvious targets: The Grove, Palisades Village, The Americana at Brand, and The Commons at Calabasas, where Angelenos are already lingering over meals, movies, and shopping runs.
Company materials say ride-and-drive activations will be staged across the portfolio, including properties in Marina del Rey and Thousand Oaks. The chargers themselves are expected to be public DC fast units powered by renewable energy and accessible to any EV driver, so non-Rivian owners will be able to plug in alongside Rivian’s own customers.
How does this fit into California’s charging map
California is already packed with plugs. The California Energy Commission reports that the state has surpassed 200,000 publicly available and shared EV charging ports, a number it says is roughly 68% higher than the count of gasoline nozzles statewide. That impressive headline figure hides some big rural gaps, but it explains why landlords and charging operators are racing to lock down prime urban spots.
The Caruso and Rivian plan fits neatly into that strategy by targeting the places where drivers naturally park for 30 to 60 minutes at a time: malls, mixed-use complexes, and resort-style communities. Instead of hunting for a standalone charging lot, drivers can top up while they grab dinner, run errands, or browse a showroom.
Why a mall landlord and an automaker are pairing up
For landlords, fast chargers are not just a green amenity; they are a way to keep visitors on-site a little longer and potentially boost spending. That pitch helped bring the two sides together, according to the Los Angeles Business Journal, which noted that the deal also lines up with Rivian’s broader product push this year.
Company materials and the Los Angeles Business Journal report that the arrangement gives Rivian more chances to meet potential buyers where they already spend their time, while expanding the Adventure Network from highway corridors into busy urban retail hubs.
Both companies say installations will move forward over the coming year, with exact locations and opening dates announced as permits clear and construction timelines become more concrete, according to the Los Angeles Times. Expect the first wave of visible chargers and the new showrooms to appear later this year as the rollout gathers steam.
