[RahulNagaraj]

Rivian's first customer-bound R1T electric pickup truck has rolled off the production line. The electric pickup truck from the American start-up has finally entered production after years of delay.



The Rivian R1T electric pickup truck was first unveiled at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, alongside the R1S electric SUV. With production for the electric pickup now started, Rivian expects deliveries to begin as scheduled, by end-September.

The Rivian R1T electric pickup trucks will initially be available in 'Launch' editions, with the Adventure and Explorer variants to be introduced early next year. Rivian is also expected to begin production of its R1S electric SUV later this year.



Rivian has over the past decade received over $10 billion in investments from various companies, most notable of them being Amazon and Ford. The company recently also announced its plans to go public with its IPO valued at $80 billion.

Source: Twitter

Link to Team-BHP news

[Electromotive]

These two hotties make the Cybertruck look like the a retard. The F150 Lightning has the advantage of pedigree over the Rivian. Time for KIA to present their contender.

[ohaak]

I wish Rivian all the best. They deserve to rule the segment for the foreseeable future. But Ford's demand for their electric pickup is extraordinary at this point. Ford confirmed that the F150 Lightning, its new electric pickup truck, has now accumulated 130,000 reservations.

There is this travelogue show on Apple TV called "Long Way Up". https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12824922/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk The focus is basically on driving electric vehicles from the Southern tip of South America all the way to Los Angeles. That show had prototype Rivian trucks as support vehicles. While the focus of the show was on the two main characters riding Harley Davidson electric bikes, the performance of the Rivian was excellent and robust in the show. That tow-to-charge feature is a wonderful addition as well. I think Rivian is far ahead of the competition when it comes to making a quality EV pickup truck. Not to mention great looks and that wonderful camping / kitchen add-on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEiobSiKXUk

[GTO]

Wow! What a momentous occasion. Truly wishing Rivian all the best. There were many naysayers who thought they'll never roll out a production truck and the negativity was understandable, keeping in mind the long list of EV companies in the graveyard. But I have to say, with their slow reveals of features etc., I was quite impressed by the attention-to-detail. They did their homework.

The electric F150 could be a work truck, and Rivian is smartly avoiding taking Ford head on by positioning the Rivian as a "premium lifestyle" truck.

[Harshal.Bhosale]

Heartiest congratulations are in order for Rivian, it is super easy to claim specs and figures, but equally super hard to get to volume production! Rivian has done what few other car companies have ever achieved.

Just a couple of years ago before the pandemic, there was a surge of EV startups that have by now fallen by the wayside. But I never had a doubt that Rivian would succeed to get to market with a production vehicle - they were playing to slow game, hiding in the shadows as much as possible for the last many years as opposed to other companies with flashy marketing and all-talk-no-show. Here's wishing them loads of success with the R1T, R1S and future products beyond!

[myavu]

WOW! the reviews are coming out and I'm mightily impressed

An ultimate off-roader cum daily diver with an air compressor, proper power outlets, a modular kitchen (add-on) , 105, 135 & 180 KW battery packs, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nge_JzJSUc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGqexebCcUo

As usual Jerry scratched the tyre to the level 3

Cheers!

[Kannan]

Adding to the above list of videos, the below is from MKBHD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1uYhkMRLWg

By the way who is following Jerry's conversion of military hummer to EV?

[Venkatesh]

Rivian R1T deliveries now underway, Travis Munson one of the Rivian employee recently took delivery of his R1T





















Link

[padmrajravi]

The R1S first look is out now. Looks great and has got a lot of party tricks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POT-Tn_Ks6o

I am yet to understand the point of a frunk. If there is no engine, why can't it be part of the passenger compartment? Why make a hood and call it frunk, just to follow the traditional design. ID Buzz design makes the most sense to me.

[shortbread]

Originally Posted by padmrajravi

I am yet to understand the point of a frunk. If there is no engine, why can't it be part of the passenger compartment? Why make a hood and call it frunk, just to follow the traditional design. ID Buzz design makes the most sense to me.

Initially I though these were due to leftover design habits from centuries of ICE car proportions. But on closer inspection, I don't think the frunk is simply the result of an engine being absent, there's more to it.

If you look at size of the tires in modern designs, moving the cabin forward will simply mean the wheel arches further impede into the front passenger footwell. Big wheels contribute to good looking cars and better dynamics. A side view of the Rivian the cabin starts where the front wheels end.

Also they need the volume in front for the crumple zones, more so as crash norms get stricter. This leaves room upfront that can be put to use, hence the frunk!

[padmrajravi]

Originally Posted by shortbread

But on closer inspection, I don't think the frunk is simply the result of an engine being absent, there's more to it.

Big wheels contribute to good looking cars and better dynamics. A side view of the Rivian the cabin starts where the front wheels end.

It is just the looks I think. It is unlikely that the ID Buzz design compromised safety by avoiding the crumple zones. They would have worked around it. None of the reasons like safety and crumple zones looks valid to me. Everyone is trying hard not to make their cars look like vans even though they make the most efficient use of available space.

[Dry Ice]

Losses mounting on Rivian. Some snippets from the WSJ article.

The auto maker affirmed its 2022 production guidance of building 25,000 vehicles by the year’s end, but said its operating loss is expected to grow to $5.45 billion, from its previous projection of $4.75 billion for the full year.

We’ve seen unprecedented levels of inflation, especially across our raw material inputs and lithium prices,” said Claire McDonough, Rivian’s finance chief.

“We’ve also experienced increased costs in regard to our expedited freight expenses,” she said.

Rivian is seeking to rein in those costs by increasingly shipping vehicles by rail instead of by truck, which is cheaper but could result in a longer delivery time to customers, Ms. McDonough said.

Rivian said it expected losses to shrink as its plant in Normal, Ill., runs closer to full capacity of building 150,000 a year. To hit this target, Rivian said it would have to run the factory on both a day and a night shift.

Inspite of the losses, it is neither out of cash ..

At the end of June, Rivian had about $15.46 billion in cash and cash equivalents, about $1.5 billion less than at the close of the first quarter.

.. or orders.

Last month, Rivian delivered the first of its battery-powered delivery vans to Amazon.com Inc.

The company has a contract to deliver 100,000 vans to Amazon by 2030.

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