Rivian: The Past and Future of an Emerging EV Manufacturer
Wednesday, December 8, 2021 | Chimniii Desk
Key Highlights
- Rivian was created in 2009 as Mainstream Motors by CEO RJ Scaringe, an MIT graduate who studied engineering and lean manufacturing.
- Rivian is presently valued at over $28 billion and plans to build 10,000 electric vans for Amazon by 2022.
- The R1T will be available in three trim levels, beginning with the Launch Edition in 2021, and will be equipped with Rivian's mid-tier battery pack, which the carmaker claims would provide a range of 300+ miles.
- As with the R1T, the R1S will launch in three flavours, beginning with the Launch Edition this year.
- Similarly, the Launch Edition R1S is sold out, but boasts a range of 300+ miles on all three models, including the Adventure Package and Explore Package, which will be available in January 2022.The Launch Edition is priced at $75,500, which is somewhat more than the pickup edition, which includes the Adventure Package.
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Rivian's Background
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Rivian was created in 2009 as Mainstream Motors by CEO RJ Scaringe, an MIT graduate who studied engineering and lean manufacturing. Scaringe grew up in the Melbourne, Florida, area, where he used to work on automobiles with his neighbour and spend a lot of time outside hiking and exploring.
Scaringe grew older and began driving miles into wilderness to trek, becoming aware that he was contributing to the pollution of an environment he wished to protect. As a result, the company was established.
What is the origin of the name Rivian?
After the initial name was altered to Avera Automotive, Scaringe and his tiny staff abandoned the alliteration strategy and eventually landed on Rivian. The name is derived from the Indian River, which Scaringe spent much of his childhood in Florida exploring on his rowboat.
Although the firm's primary focus has always been automobiles, it takes pleasure in the fact that it does not look or act like a car manufacturer. Rivian prioritises making a difference over anything else because of Scaringe's deep concern on the environment and sustainability.
Manufacturing facilities and prototypes
Rivian was involved in both electric vehicle technologies and autonomous driving capabilities two years after its founding. The carmaker sought out from the start to develop elegant and battery-powered vehicles, but the robust outdoorsy SUVs we see now weren't always the priority.
Rivian debuted a fast coupe prototype in 2011 before abandoning the entire project. While it appears that the coupe was a working prototype, it's perhaps for the best that Rivian's original focus was on SUVs, as several other EV businesses have gone the premium EV car path.
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An early coupe prototype from Rivian
Rivian had acquired enough financing by 2015 to operate research sites in the Bay Area of California as well as Michigan. To keep close to Midwest suppliers, the latter quickly became home to Rivian HQ. The company then changed its manufacturing focus to a comprehensive ecosystem of electric vehicles designed for use in the great outdoors.
By early 2017, the business had completed the acquisition of a former Mitsubishi factory in Normal, Illinois, which will serve as its North American manufacturing hub. As a result, despite having fewer than 200 employees at the time, the company got grants and tax breaks from the state government for bringing jobs to Southern Illinois.
Rivian announced the completion of its two alpha prototypes at the end of 2017. Less than a year later, the R1T pickup and R1S SUV made their debuts at the Los Angeles Auto Show, with production set to begin in 2020.
Rivian has relocated its headquarters and much of its research and development to Irvine, California. Many technologies are still being developed in Michigan, but Rivian appears to be gradually transitioning everything to its new California site.
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The automaker’s retrofitted manufacturing facility in Normal, IL
Amazon and Ford have joined the party
Rivian has approximately 1,000 personnel and facilities in the UK, as well as Michigan, Illinois, and California, by 2019. Amazon, among other investors and debt lenders, invested $700 million on top of an order for 100,000 Rivian-developed electric vans.
Ford Motor Firm also spent $500 million shortly after, but terminated its contract during the COVID-19 outbreak, returning manufacturing to the company. However, both sides have stated that they maintain a great relationship and intend to collaborate in the future.
Rivian has now received $350 million in further investment from Cox Automotive, as well as two rounds of capital totaling over $3 billion from T. Rowe Price.
Rivian is presently valued at over $28 billion and plans to build 10,000 electric vans for Amazon by 2022. Furthermore, it intends to launch its first two EVs in 2021, however delivery dates are constantly being pushed back.
Rivian's current and future EVs
Rivian currently has one EV on the road in the United States, with two more planned for this summer. Below is a rundown of each, as well as some rumour mill speculation about what the future may hold for the automaker and its next series of EVs.
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Rivian's electric van for Amazon
As previously stated, the massive Amazon purchase was a requirement for the marketplace's investment in Rivian, and it has subsequently become a top priority for the manufacturer. Prototypes of the Rivian van began appearing in Los Angeles just over a year after the announcement.
The vans began making official deliveries in Los Angeles in February. Amazon, not to be outdone, expanded its fleet operations to San Francisco to evaluate how the Rivian vans performed in the rough terrain.
Amazon vans have since been sighted in the Denver metro region as well as Topeka, Kansas.
With 16 cities scheduled for the initial 10,000 van rollout, we should expect to witness an increase in electric Amazon deliveries over the coming year.
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Rivian's R1T pickup truck
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The R1T pickup is set to be the first Rivian consumer EV to be delivered, and great excitement has already surrounded it. This five-seat, totally electric pickup truck has several interesting and intriguing features focusing on the outdoors, as well as some interesting exterior colour options.
The R1T will be available in three trim levels, beginning with the Launch Edition in 2021, and will be equipped with Rivian's mid-tier battery pack, which the carmaker claims would provide a range of 300+ miles.
Rivian initially stated that its vehicles will be available with 105 kWh, 135 kWh, and 180 kWh battery packs, allowing for "230+ miles, 300+ miles, and 400+ miles." Having said that, the R1T configurator currently only supports the big (300+ mi) and max (400+ mi) packs.
The Launch Edition R1T is entirely reserved, but prices begin at $75,000 and go up from there. It will be followed by the Adventure Package for the same price in January of next year, as well as a less priced Explore Package for $67,500. Electrek previously reported on a possible extended cab R1T observed in Rivian winter test footage, but the firm has made no remarks on it to now.
The R1T was supposed to be released in June 2021, but Rivian eventually moved it back to July. R1T deliveries were once again pushed back, this time until September.
September arrived, and Rivian had began manufacturing R1T pickups for actual customers. RJ Scaringe, CEO of Rivian, recorded the key moment for the embryonic manufacturer on Twitter, with footage of the first customer EV coming off the assembly line at Rivian's Normal, IL facility.
Rivian has become the first electric pickup manufacturer, beating off Tesla, Ford, and others to the finish line.
Electrek had the opportunity to test drive the R1T, and we were impressed. Take a look:
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The Rivian R1S SUV
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The R1S will ride on the same proprietary skateboard platform as the R1T, but with greater space for passengers and freight. This seven-seat alternative is scheduled to arrive just months after its pickup truck sibling and boasts an enormous interior room, as demonstrated by RJ Scaringe.
Although the R1S has garnered fewer attention than the pickup, it may eventually prove to be the most popular option in Rivian's little family. While the luxury SUV market remains saturated, Rivian's R1S promises luxury, range, and a capability for difficult terrain that many automakers will eventually struggle to match.
Particularly after witnessing images of the future R1S down a 45-degree hill with the ease of a regular driveway.
As with the R1T, the R1S will launch in three flavours, beginning with the Launch Edition this year. Similarly, the Launch Edition R1S is sold out, but boasts a range of 300+ miles on all three models, including the Adventure Package and Explore Package, which will be available in January 2022.
The Launch Edition is priced at $75,500, which is somewhat more than the pickup edition, which includes the Adventure Package. The Explore Package will be slightly less expensive, coming in at $70,000. Take note that the costs stated are before any applicable tax credits or state subsidies, which means that consumers may spend even less for their new Rivian.
What makes the Rivian R1S unique is that it is now only available with a mid-tier battery pack capable of 300+ miles. At the moment, the Max Pack is not available in the R1S configurator.
With the start of R1T deliveries, we may anticipate the arrival of the R1S shortly thereafter. Perhaps in the fall of 2021, in October or November.
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A fan rendering of what a possible Rally EV may look like.
Models of the future
While we do not have specific confirmation of what the manufacturer may be working on next, we do know that it has a lot in the works. The corporation filed for two further trademarks for unidentified automobiles last summer.
The first was dubbed the "R1V" and was filed with the trademark office under the "land vehicles and parts" category.
The second was a "R2X" classified in the same category, which has been suspected to be some form of rally car similar to the rendering above.
Additionally, speculations have circulated regarding Rivian adopting a numerical naming scheme for future models, such as the R2T and R2S. Although Rivian has not acknowledged this, many assume a smaller pickup dubbed the R2T is in the works.
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Rivian's ambitions for the United States
With Amazon vans now travelling across the United States and two additional electric vehicles scheduled to begin deliveries in the coming months, Rivian has a lot going on.
Much will be dependent on the performance of the R1T and R1S vehicles, but with limited quantities of each available in the Launch Edition, the world may not fully appreciate Rivian's impact on the auto industry until the other packages come in early 2022.
Rivian is also expanding its own charging infrastructure, dubbed the "Adventure Network," beginning with all Colorado state parks.
In July 2021, we reported that Rivian was actively seeking a second manufacturing facility in the United States to complement its existing factory in Normal, Illinois.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk shared his experience as an EV firm that struggled to scale production, advising the company to focus on having the first facility operational before expanding.
We discovered proof of Rivian's service centre expansion in Orange County, California. The proposed permits would allow the plant to do routine maintenance 24 hours a day and examine EVs as they are produced and delivered to customers.
Rivian just established its first retail "hub" in Venice, California, with additional locations planned.
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Will Rivian enter the European market?
Although the company is indigenous, it has no intention of limiting its reach to the United States. Rivian was apparently seeking locations for a European factory in February.
This was followed by news in August 2021 that the manufacturer was in talks to establish a facility in the United Kingdom.
Rivian Forums reported in March that the firm has hired battery experts to build solid-state batteries for the corporation, implying that the technology could be used in future EVs from the manufacturer.
Additionally, the following events have occurred at Rivian HQ to keep you informed:
- Rivian, an electric pickup truck business valued at $80 billion, files for an initial public offering.
- Tesla says in an expanding complaint that Rivian is taking 'trade secrets' about its 'next-generation battery.
- Rivian's patent illustration of a minivan is mostly an exercise in imagination.
- Utility sites provide a clue as to the location of Rivian Adventure Network chargers in California.
- Rivian is introducing a slew of accessories for its electric pickup truck and SUV.
- Rivian has expanded its business beyond Tesla with the announcement of 'Rivian Insurance.'
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