Rivian Automotive may not be as a household name yet, but head-turning EV designs, big-name partnerships and unique capabilities are all likely to change that in the coming years. Founded in 2009, The company originally intended its first vehicle to be a sports car. However, Rivian’s CEO RJ Scaringe said that the project was shelved in 2011 because he wanted his company to have a bigger impact on the automotive industry, hence the shift of focus to SUVs and pickup trucks.
The company is based out of Irvine, California. However, its only production facility is in Normal, Illinois, where it manufactures vehicle components like battery packs. Rivian’s electric SUVs and pickup trucks are built upon a proprietary battery platform that can support future vehicles as well.
Six years after its founding, Rivian announced its first two products: an electric five-passenger pickup truck and an electric seven-passenger SUV. Originally named the A1T and A1C, the truck and SUV were renamed in 2018 to the R1T and R1S, respectively. Global chip shortages delayed delivery of the EVs from late 2020 to late 2021, however, in September 2021, Rivian became the first automaker to bring an EV pickup truck to the consumer market, beating out industry leaders like Tesla and Ford.
To help alleviate potential range worries, Rivian says it is developing a nationwide network of over 3,500 DC fast chargers planned at approximately 600 sites across the country. These “Rivian Adventure Network” chargers will be able to supply as much as 140 miles of range in 20 minutes and will only be available to Rivian customers. However, the Rivian Adventure Network Level 2 chargers – installed at “adventurous” areas like hiking trailheads – are open to all.
The company also offers personal at-home chargers. These personal chargers sync with customers’ Rivian accounts and mobile apps so drivers can program charge times and check charge levels. Rivian says these chargers are also compatible with most other EVs.
Here’s what to know about the latest electric Rivian models (base trims as of Q4 2022):
R1T – Rivian’s light-duty pickup truck, the R1T, is the company’s first-ever vehicle, and it was named the Motor Trend Truck of the Year in 2021. It features four electric motors, offers three different battery sizes to choose from, and has the ability to mount extra batteries in the bed for improved range. Those three motors mean the R1T likely accelerates faster than any pickup you’ve driven before – a cool 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. Its payload capacity is also astronomical for a midsize truck, at 1,760 lbs.
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R1T |
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Base Price |
$73,000 |
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Range |
314 miles |
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Seats |
Five |
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Cargo Capacity |
11.9 cu.ft. + 11 cu.ft. of front truck space |
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Base Drive |
AWD |
R1S – The R1S is the SUV version of Rivian’s R1T and shares 91% of the same components as the pickup truck. Each wheel on the R1S has a separate wheel hub motor, allowing the driver to load the trailer with up to 3.5 tons. Designed to appeal to the off-road crowd, the R1S also features an adjustable air suspension system to allow for up to 15 in. of ground clearance.
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R1S |
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Base Price |
$78,000 |
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Range |
316 miles |
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Seats |
Seven |
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Cargo Capacity |
105 cu. ft. |
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Base Drive |
AWD |
Rivian EDV – Rivian has entered a commercial agreement with Amazon to design and produce 100,000 electric delivery vehicles (EDVs) for Amazon’s fleet, ready by 2030. According to Rivian, the vans will be built on the same platform – basic electrical and network architecture, ECUs, and battery-pack design – as the Rivian R1 models.
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EDV |
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Base Price |
$52,690 |
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Range |
150 miles |
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Cargo Capacity |
840 cu. ft. |
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Base Drive |
AWD |
