No U-Turn Here! EV Manufacturer Rivian Nabs National Award for All-Vegan Interiors

For Immediate Release:
April 22, 2024

Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382

A “REVolutionary Vegan Vehicle” Award is on its way from PETA to Rivian after the electric vehicle manufacturer confirmed to PETA that it doesn’t use any animal-derived materials in its interiors and has no plans to do so—confirming that all its vehicles are 100% vegan. In thanks, PETA is sending Rivian a box of delicious cow-shaped vegan chocolates.

“Every vegan vehicle rolled out by Rivian helps spare vulnerable cows and sheep being mutilated and killed for leather and wool car interiors,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is celebrating this company for helping to steer the industry toward an animal- and planet-friendly future.”

A PETA video exposé revealed that calves are branded on the face and gentle cows and bulls are electroshocked and beaten before finally being slaughtered to be made into cars’ leather interiors. It takes an average of three cows’ hides to cover the interior of one standard car. Turning animals’ skin into leather requires massive amounts of chemicals—approximately 130 different types, including cyanide—and leather production has a massive carbon footprint.

The production of wool also exacerbates the climate catastrophe. Small ruminants, such as sheep and goats, are responsible for 475 million tons of carbon dioxide–equivalent greenhouse gas each year—a climate impact equal to that of 103 million cars. Exposés by PETA entities of 117 wool-production facilities in Australia, Europe, North America, and South America have documented that sheep are beaten, mutilated, and even skinned alive for their wool.

Some of the world’s biggest car brands—such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen—offer leather-free car interiors in certain models, while Tesla is fully leather-free. Volvo announced that its cars will be completely leather-free by 2030. PETA is calling on lagging brands—including Audi, Bentley, Lexus, Mazda, and Porsche—to follow suit.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on X, Facebook, or Instagram.