Rivian R1T Production Begins: First Electric Pickup Truck

Rivian Begins Production of R1T Electric Pickup

The inaugural Rivian R1T electric pickup, finished in “Rivian blue,” officially commenced production Tuesday morning at the company’s manufacturing facility located in Normal, Illinois. This event signifies a pivotal achievement for the automaker and its founder, RJ Scaringe, representing over ten years of dedicated development.

Company Growth and Development

Initially established in 2009 as Mainstream Motors, the company transitioned to the Rivian name in 2011. Since then, it has experienced substantial expansion in personnel, investment, and strategic partnerships. Scaringe announced the news via Twitter, accompanied by an image of the first production truck sporting the signature Rivian Blue color.

“Following a period of pre-production vehicle construction, this morning saw our first vehicle intended for a customer leave the production line in Normal!” he stated. “This milestone was made possible through the combined efforts of our team. We are eager to deliver these trucks to our customers!”

The identity of the recipient of this first customer vehicle remains undisclosed at this time.

From Stealth Mode to Production

For several years, Rivian operated discreetly before unveiling prototypes of its all-electric R1T truck and R1S SUV at the Los Angeles Auto Show in late 2018.

Since that unveiling, the company has secured billions of dollars in funding – $10.5 billion since 2019 – expanded its Illinois factory, and significantly increased its workforce. Furthermore, Rivian has established Amazon as a key commercial client and recently filed for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) confidentially.

Currently, in addition to its Illinois plant, Rivian maintains facilities in Palo Alto and Irvine, California; Plymouth, Michigan; and an office in the United Kingdom.

Workforce Expansion and Production Challenges

When the initial electric vehicle concepts were presented in 2018, Rivian employed approximately 600 individuals. Today, the company’s workforce has grown to 8,000 employees.

Scaringe’s announcement on Tuesday marks the formal commencement of R1T production for customers, following previous delays attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and a global semiconductor chip shortage. A letter to customers earlier this summer indicated that R1T deliveries would begin in September, with the R1S to follow soon after.

Dual Production Lines

Rivian is simultaneously managing the production of both the R1T and R1S for individual consumers, as well as electric delivery vans for Amazon. The Illinois factory utilizes two distinct production lines: one dedicated to the R1 vehicles and the other to the commercial vans.

Amazon has placed an order for 100,000 of these vans, with deliveries initiated in 2021. Earlier in the year, Amazon began field-testing the electric delivery vans in cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Range and Market Position

This month, Rivian revealed that the first edition of the R1T pickup truck boasts an official EPA-estimated range of 314 miles, while the R1T SUV achieves 316 miles.

These official range figures, published on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website, align with Rivian’s previously advertised estimates of approximately 300 miles.

This launch is particularly significant as it positions Rivian as the first to market with an electric truck. Ford’s F-150 Lightning, anticipated to arrive in spring 2022, targets a range of 230 miles in its standard configuration and up to 300 miles with the extended-range battery. Official EPA range data for the Ford Lightning is currently unavailable.

The “Launch Edition” R1T truck and R1S SUV are equipped with a 135 kWh battery pack, designated as the “large pack.” Deliveries of these Launch Edition vehicles are scheduled to begin this month.

Note: Rivian has raised $10.5 billion since 2019. The company’s total funding is estimated to be around $11 billion.