EV start-up Rivian beats Tesla, GM, Ford as first automaker to produce electric pickup

[Klaralven]

EV start-up Rivian is the first automaker to bring an electric pickup to the consumer market, beating Tesla, General Motors and others in what’s expected to be a hotly contested segment in the years ahead.

Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe on Tuesday tweeted that the company’s first R1T pickup for a customer drove off the assembly line in the morning at its plant in Normal, Illinois.

“After months of building pre-production vehicles, this morning our first customer vehicle drove off our production line in Normal! Our team’s collective efforts have made this moment possible,” he said. “Can’t wait to get these into the hands of our customers!”

...

The beginning of production, which has been delayed several times, comes weeks after the Amazon- and Ford Motor-backed company filed a confidential draft registration form for an IPO.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/14/ev-start-up-rivian-beats-tesla-gm-ford-as-first-automaker-to-produce-electric-pickup.html

[marble falls]

1. Looks like an F-150 to me, with oddball headlights.

[Budi]

2. How much is the Rivian R1T? Starts at $69,000 w/$8500 in Fed tax & refundable credits

How much is the Rivian R1T?
The R1T pickup truck will start at $69,000. That cost is before the $7,500 federal tax credit. Rivian is currently taking refundable $1,000 deposits.
In September 2019, Amazon agreed to purchase 100,000 Rivian electric vans.

https://rivian.com/

[Klaralven]

4. claimed zero-to-60-mph time of 3.0 seconds

All-wheel drive is standard on the 2022 R1T thanks to an arrangement similar to the Tesla Model X, where each wheel is powered by its own electric motor. The R1T boasts up to 800 horsepower and a claimed zero-to-60-mph time of 3.0 seconds. Adjustable air suspension will be standard at launch and can adjust the clearance height from eight to 14 inches. Every version of the R1T has all-wheel drive, with an electric motor at each wheel. This allows the R1T to do what Rivian calls a Tank Turn, which sets the electric motors to rotate the left wheels in the opposite direction of the right ones to spin the truck on its axis.

https://www.caranddriver.com/rivian/r1t

The R1T has a separate set of drive modes for off-roading, and they allow the driver to raise the suspension and ease throttle response in various degrees. This allows the same truck that flies through paved curves to tip-toe over obstacles that might give even a Jeep Wrangler pause. Unlike an internal combustion off-roader, the Rivian has no low-hanging bits like driveshafts and differentials and exhaust pipes, just a smooth, flat undertray from which the wheels and their attachments protrude. Ground clearance starts at a very usable 7.9 inches and extends to 14.4, the latter exceeding the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon's dirt-to-truck number by 3.3 inches. The R1T also has a built-in air compressor, so you can air down the tires for off-roading with the knowledge you can easily pump 'em back up for pavement.

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2022-rivian-r1t-electric-pickup-truck-first-drive-review/

[Budi]

5. Wow.

"...a Tank Turn, which sets the electric motors to rotate the left wheels in the opposite direction of the right ones to spin the truck on its axis."

Would be cool to ride along for a test drive just to see how it does, before taking the wheel myself.

It definately grabs some curious interest!

Hmmm.

[Doodley]

3. Ugly vehicle. Look at Fisker for the future rival to Tesla.

[msongs]

6. too much cab n not enuff bed. then again most pickup buyers dont really need one nt

[Klaralven]

7. Similar to a Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro?

[Lochloosa]

8. Funny...I bought my 92 F150 because of the 8' bed.