Valvoline will provide vehicle maintenance at its service centers for e-mobility manufacturer Arrival and its electric vans and buses after the two companies entered a partnership, it was announced last week.
Arrival, a startup company with operations in the United States and Europe, produces zero-emission buses and vans using its “microfactories,” which it described as lower cost, highly scalable and deployable in existing warehouses. The company has already signed a contract with UPS for 10,000 vans.
Valvoline, based in Lexington, Kentucky, is one of four initial service partners as part of Arrival’s Service Network Program in the United States.
“This partnership further advances Valvoline’s strategy in extending its world-class preventive auto maintenance service model to electric vehicles and hybrids,” Valvoline said in a press release issued Dec. 1. “Valvoline’s vast service network across the U.S. allows Arrival to quickly stand up its Service Network Program while providing customers with Valvoline’s best-in-class service.”
Valvoline will have access to Arrival’s repair and maintenance documentation, in-person and online training, predictive and automated diagnostics, and parts distribution. Arrival’s software also uses data from its vehicles and proprietary algorithms for maintenance and repair.
“We’re aiming to fundamentally change the way that maintenance, service and repair is performed using in-house software to create a next-generation experience for our customers,” said Serge Sulgin, CEO of Arrival Solutions. “The Arrival service platform will provide a marketplace to connect EV users with skilled and certified service providers, giving them an end-to-end solution for the newest and most advanced products in their fleet and allowing us to scale our service network quickly and on demand to meet our customers wherever they are. It will also give our partners the opportunity to upskill their workforce for the future of mobility.”
Valvoline appeared to be hinting at a potential wider scope to the collaboration between the two companies, saying it “continues to explore the service options it will offer that will leverage its experienced, skilled technicians to deliver quick, no-appointment-necessary services.”
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