With each new social media post announcing the delivery of a Rivian R1T, those of us on the other side of the screen are left wondering: how long does it take to get a Rivian from reservation to your garage (or, even better, on a road trip)?
In this essay, we will describe the what and why of Rivian's vehicle delivery accomplishments and delays. Next, we will guide you through the maze of current Rivian delivery estimates and dates. Finally, we discuss the quickest method for acquiring your own Rivian.
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It is essential to realise that Rivian is a new company currently learning the production ropes. Production in 2022 fell just short of 25,000 units (24,337 units produced and 20,332 units produced), and there are already over 100,000 reservations in the backlog.
Sadly, Rivian is also experiencing the same shipping and manufacturing shortages as the rest of the world, with an especially tight squeeze in the crucial battery component and supply market. The outcome? High wait times for Rivian trucks and SUVs with smaller battery pack capacities, and much longer wait times for Rivian vehicles equipped with Max battery packs.
In order to combat the supply chain issue, Rivian has prioritised particular vehicle combinations. As many critics (including Elon Musk) have pointed out, Rivian is currently losing money on every vehicle it manufactures. The company is at a crossroads, and Rivian must make some challenging business decisions to move forward.
As a result, Rivian's R1T and R1S delivery timeframes are highly influenced by the following three factors:
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So how long does it take to get a Rivian? With the “why” out of the way, let’s take a look at the “when,” starting with Rivian’s truck, the R1T.
According to posts by Rivian R1T owners on social media and websites like Reddit, R1T deliveries can take as little as 40 days or as long as four years and counting. Several original reservation holders from 2018 are still awaiting the arrival of their production number.
As previously noted, Rivian manufacturing prioritises specific features and builds. This pushes R1T reservation holders who desire the Max battery pack, manual or tonneau-less tonneau, or Ocean Coast interior to the back of the line. On the other hand, it has been stated that Quad-Motor models with the Big battery pack were delivered in less than two months.
When reserving a Rivian truck, selecting a build that Rivian is currently prioritising could result in an earlier delivery date. As Rivian lost the option to configure an R1T at the time of reservation, you will not be able to guarantee that your Rivian is a priority build before your name is called from the queue. This characteristic makes it more difficult to anticipate delivery time.
Let's examine the current estimations for each equipment bundle for the R1T:
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The R1T Launch Edition is sold out; you will not be able to obtain a new one unless you are a reservation holder. The R1T Launch delivery window is anticipated to extend from today (1/13/2023) through the second and third quarters of 2023. (or sometime in 2024 for those with a Max battery pack).
Delivery significantly depending on the selected configuration. Typical R1T Launch versions with a large battery pack and either the Black Mountain or Forest Edge interior have apparently been delivered the quickest (currently in production). Since September 2021, these variants have been consistently provided to pre-order clients.
Configurations featuring an Ocean Coast Interior are also being manufactured, although delivery won't begin until late 2022. The Ocean Coast's interior design changed from a light wood to a dark wood appearance last year, with Rivian arguing that the former was more difficult to source/produce.
The delivery of the R1T Launch with a Max battery pack is not planned to begin until 2024. In truth, the majority of Rivians with the Max pack have had their manufacturing schedules pushed back; mass production of the Max pack has not yet begun.
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Last August, the R1T Explore package was removed from Rivian's R1T portfolio (2022). Rivian attributed this change to a lack of interest and supply chain concerns. This left reservation holders with the option to either make a change to an R1T Adventure reservation (for an additional $5,500) or cancel their reservations entirely. It appears that Rivian has no present plans to reinstate this option.
At least one R1T Adventure quad-motor construction has been delivered in fewer than 40 days from the date of reservation, which is a record. The shortest delivery estimate for the R1T Adventure is two to three months.
Nevertheless, this is only the case if the delivery location is close to a service centre and the configuration is on the priority line (currently, this seems to include the Quad-Motor, Large battery pack, and Forest Edge or Black Mountain Interior).
The Dual-Motor version of the R1T Adventure could enter manufacturing in 2023, although delivery is not anticipated until 2024. The Dual-Motor R1T Adventure with Standard battery is anticipated to begin delivery later in the summer of 2024, with the longest delay.
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Since the R1T is the first priority for Rivian's consumer vehicle line, the SUV delivery date has been continuously pushed back. Prior to August 2022, only a few of R1S Launch Editions were distributed to Rivian leaders and workers.
The majority of newly reserved Rivian R1S vehicles will not be delivered until late 2023 or early 2024. Yet, some early reservation holders (here and there) have already received an R1S, and deliveries for existing bookings are currently proceeding.
In fact, we have already placed one on Find My Electric for sale. Yet, they are now few and far between (although they can certainly be found).
This likely indicates that R1S Launch reservation holders desiring the Max battery pack, manual or non-existent tonneau, or Ocean Coast interior have been relegated to a later position in line. Some configurations might not be delivered until the second half of 2023 or later.
Like with the R1T Launch Edition, all R1S Launch Edition reservations have been filled. The R1S Launch was initially made available for presale in 2018, with an expected delivery date of August 2021.
Rivian's SUV has been included in production since 2022, although, as previously stated, R1S Launch deliveries have primarily been made to staff; however, this is gradually changing; deliveries began in late August/early September 2022 and are ongoing.
The most current update sets the majority of R1S Launch Edition deliveries in the first and second quarters of 2023, with a few shipments extending into 2024.
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There have been rumours that the R1S Adventure could be delivered in mid-to-late 2023 or early 2024, although no official statement has been made. If the R1T delivery scenario is any indication, it is feasible that some R1S Adventure packages will ship at the same time as the R1S Launch Edition (sprinkling some higher dollar orders into the queue while Rivian increases production).
As Rivian disabled the option to customise an R1S during the reservation process, you will not be able to confirm that your R1S Adventure is a priority build before your name is called from the queue.
Selecting a build that Rivian is favouring may result in a speedier delivery of an R1S, but the reservation backlog makes delivery time even less predictable.
The R1T Explore edition is unfortunately no longer available. Similar to the R1T Explore, the R1S Explore was discontinued by Rivian in August of 2022. Explore package reservation customers were compelled to upgrade to the Adventure package or cancel their reservation (with a full refund).
The actual delivery time for a Rivian ordered directly can range from a few months to many years. The uncertain wait, coupled with the likelihood that Rivian costs would continue to rise, might make purchasing a Rivian intimidating.
How can one bypass the queue and yet purchase a Rivian at a comparable price? Contemplate used purchases! A benefit of the lengthy wait that most reservation holders endured to acquire their Rivian is that some of them no longer need or require the vehicle they received.
Purchasing a pre-owned Rivian allows you to beat the line and obtain one in record time. Additionally, since the price of new Rivians continues to rise, the present higher-than-MSRP price for used Rivians is not as horrible as it may seem.
There are a limited number of used Rivians for sale, as production is currently limited. Nonetheless, Rivians are routinely posted to a variety of selling sites. Yet, it can be difficult to find EVs with the required Rivian attributes on a typical, congested automobile listing website.
Fortunately, Find My Electric's listings are tailored to your particular need. We provide you with the resources you need to locate the ideal Rivian fast and effectively.
The basic truth is that you do not have to wait months to get your hands on a brand-new Rivian. See the whole inventory of used Rivians now available on Find My Electric.
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