Rivian Beats Tesla, Ford and GMC With First Electric Pickup Truck Deliveries
Customers reportedly already have 835-hp Rivian R1Ts in their garages, while Hummer EV and F-150 Lightning buyers are still waiting.
Rivian just hit a major milestone by delivering the first all-electric pickup trucks to customers, beating major automakers like Ford, GMC and Tesla to the punch.
While no official statements have been released, a Rivian spokesperson told Autoweek “there are non-employees driving their trucks today.”
“Non-employees” is an important distinction to make, as early reports indicated that people on Rivian’s payroll were merely8 beta-testing the company’s pickup, the R1T. This is not the case.
“More R1T deliveries to come the rest of this year and as we continue to ramp into next,” the source said, adding that the R1S SUV will make it to market by year’s end.
The R1T employs a quad-motor drivetrain, with a dual-motor unit for each axle. Maximum output is rated at 835 hp and 908 pound-feet of torque, good for a supercar-worthy 3.0-second 60-mph time and an 11,000-pound towing capability, even on steep grades.
Estimated maximum range is 314 miles, but what’s caught the attention of many are clever add-ons, like a Camp Kitchen featuring a stove, collapsible four-gallon sink, and 30 pieces of of kitchenware that can be folded up and stowed in a tunnel behind the rear doors.
With buyers getting behind the wheels of their R1Ts, Autoweek laid out the timeline for other e-truck arrivals. GMC had promised to get the first Hummer EVs in customer garages buy the fall of 2021, a dicey proposition considering that the first day of winter is weeks away.
Ford’s F-150 Lightning is due out in spring of 2022, and no one has any idea when the first Tesla Cybertrucks will hit the streets.
While impressive, Rivian’s delivery of goods is backed by big money. Ford and Amazon have invested over $2 billion combined, and the company just completed an IPO that raised an additional $12 billion.
Priced from $68,575 or $74,075 for the Launch Edition, the Rivian R1T is available to configure and order online.
Read This Next
