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Rivian won't start delivering its EV pickups until 2021
Rivian’s electric pickups are some of the most hotly anticipated EVs in the US, but potential buyers will have to wait to get their hands on one. After shutting down its plant last month due to the coronavirus crisis, the startup has announced that production will be delayed until 2021.
America is falling in love with electric SUVs
Established automakers and startups alike are hoping to cash in on the American public's paradigm shift towards electric transportation. For a long time, however, EV technology simply wasn't mature enough to handle much more than toting families across town. But thanks to recent advances in battery design, electric vehicles are driving farther and hauling more weight than ever, opening the market for EV SUVs and pickup trucks.
Rivian says its electric vehicles will cost less than first announced
Rivian's first vehicles are getting a price cut of sorts months before they even roll off the line. Company founder RJ Scaringe told Reuters in a chat that the electric R1T truck and its R1S SUV counterpart would cost less than originally announced. He didn't provide full pricing, but he indicated that a mid-range R1T with 300 miles of range and an electrochromic glass roof would sell for $69,000, while a comparable R1S would sell for $72,000. The automaker had pegged the starting prices for the R1T and R1S at $61,500 and $65,000 respectively.
Alexa voice control is coming to Lamborghini and Rivian cars
Alexa is about to come to some particularly posh cars, and it'll handle more than you might think. Both Lamborghini and Rivian have announced that Amazon's voice assistant will be integrated in their vehicles by the end of 2020. It'll perform common Alexa tasks like calls, navigation and even paying for gas (for Lambos, that is), but you can also use it for climate control, windows and other basic car functions. You might not have to touch a button if you're just trying to warm up on a cold day.
Rivian shows off how its new EVs can ‘tank turn’
If you've ever wished that your car could turn on a dime, then the folks at Rivian have just given you a reason to buy one of their EVs. The company posted a video on Dec 25th, spotted by Electrek, showing off how its R1T and R1S electric vehicles can make tank-turns. At least, if you buy the quad-motor version, which allows each wheel to be driven independently, giving you the ability to spin around on the spot.
Lincoln is reportedly building an electric SUV on Rivian's platform
Ford didn't say what kind of car it would make with Rivian's EV platform, but you might not have to wait for official news to find out. Reuters sources claim that Ford's Lincoln badge is developing an all-wheel drive SUV on the platform with plans to release it in mid-2022. Most other details weren't available, but this would likely be a "premium" model that would compete with offerings from GM rumored to surface by 2023.
Amazon orders 100,000 EVs to help meet climate goal ten years early
Jeff Bezos has announced Amazon will sign up to a climate pledge with the aim of meeting the United Nations Paris Agreement climate goals 10 years early. He said Amazon will hit emission reduction targets by 2040, report its emissions regularly and implement decarbonization strategies. The company will balance out any remaining emissions with carbon offsets. Bezos wants 80 percent of Amazon's energy use to come from renewable sources by 2024, and for it to rely fully on renewable energy by 2030.
Rivian gets $350 million from the company behind Kelley Blue Book
Rivian won't even release its first electric truck until late 2020, but that isn't stopping the company from receiving its third big funding infusion this year. Cox Automotive, the company behind Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book, has made a $350 million equity investment in Rivian. The publications won't play much of a role, to be clear. Rather, this is about a chance to "explore partnership opportunities" in the other areas of Cox's business, including digital retail, logistics and service ops. Cox owns companies like Manheim, which services, transports and auctions cars worldwide.
Rivian will repurpose used EV batteries for solar power in Puerto Rico
Rivian is known for pushing the boundaries of battery tech. Not only is the startup working on the first all-electric pickup for the US market, it's also planning "Rivian-to-Rivian" charging, which will allow its vehicles to charge each other, and it designed a camp stove add-on that takes advantage of the EV's battery pack. Now, the company wants to turn its used batteries into an energy storage system for a solar power microgrid in Puerto Rico.
Rivian's electric trucks can charge each other
If electric cars are ultimately batteries on wheels, shouldn't you have the option of charging one EV with another? You will with Rivian's truck and SUV. Company chief R.J. Scaringe told The Drive in an interview that "Rivian-to-Rivian" charging will be available. While he didn't elaborate on how it would work, the practicality is clear. Much like some newer phones, a friend with a low battery could grab some electricity in a pinch rather than waiting to plug into a dedicated charger.
Rivian designed a camp stove add-on for its electric truck
Rivian has shown off its upcoming electric truck at the Overland Expo West, and it certainly looks different -- and a lot more extra -- from the previous times we've seen it. The automaker has debuted a camp kitchen for the R1T, and it's even powered by the EV's battery pack. Because, you know, why rough it in the wilderness when you can slide a fancy camping stove out of your truck and cook a full English breakfast to perfection?
Ford invests $500 million in Rivian to create an 'all-new' EV
It's now patently clear why Rivian turned down GM's exclusive investment -- it wanted to remain open to other juicy deals. Ford has announced that it's investing $500 million in Rivian, and is forming a "strategic partnership" to produce an "all-new" Ford-branded electric vehicle using the startup's skateboard platform. This is on top of Ford's existing EV plans, the companies said. Details of the machine weren't mentioned.
Rivian turned down GM investment so it could build EVs for others
Reports emerged last week that GM would not join Amazon in investing in electric vehicle startup Rivian, and now we have a little more clarity on why talks broke down. It seems GM wanted some exclusivity, but Rivian plans to build vehicles for other companies, as well as release up to six models under its own branding by 2025.
Amazon invests in electric truck-maker Rivian
Amazon is staking a claim in the EV market after it led a $700 million investment round in electric pickup truck and SUV maker Rivian. Other details about the investment aren't being disclosed, but previous shareholders are involved and Rivian is remaining an independent company. Rumors suggested this week Amazon and GM would both invest, but it's not clear if the latter took part in this round. Nor did Rivian disclose how much of the company Amazon now owns.
Amazon and GM may invest in Rivian's electric pickup trucks
Rivian might be attracting some big money just a few months after unveiling its electric pickup truck and SUV. Reuters and Bloomberg sources say Amazon and GM are in discussions to invest in Rivian in an agreement that would value the EV startup between $1 billion and $2 billion. They would have minority stakes in the company, but this would still represent a big boost for an automaker whose first vehicle won't roll off the assembly line until 2020.
How Rivian is building the longest lasting batteries in the EV business
The Rivian R1T "adventure vehicle" made headlines and dropped jaws when it was revealed at the 2018 LA Auto Show last month, namely because nobody has ever really tried to make an all-electric pickup for the US market before. Much less one with more than a 400-mile range. That capability is due to the vehicle's gargantuan power pack with capacities up to 180 kWh -- 80 percent larger than today's biggest batteries.
Up close with Rivian’s R1T electric adventure truck
After nine years of design and development, automotive startup Rivian unveiled not one but two new electric vehicles (each with Level 3 autonomy, no less) on Tuesday at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. The R1T is a pickup built specifically for off-road adventuring while the swanky R1S is competing with Range Rover's line of upscale SUVs in both looks and amenities.
Automotive startup Rivian unveils an electric truck and SUV
Electrified SUVs are popping up everywhere. So it's no surprise that automotive startup Rivian has unveiled one of its own, the R1S. More exciting is the company's electron-powered pickup truck, the R1T.
Inside the automotive startup taking EVs off-road
The Tesla Model X is the "least capable SUV ever made," according to Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe. It sits too low to the ground, for one, and yet, somehow, most American garages aren't tall enough for the rear doors to open. It's something that looks great sitting next to a Lamborghini or a Porsche, but it's more style than substance. It's an SUV in name alone. You won't take your Model X to ride the sand dunes for a weekend, but that's precisely what Scaringe wants you to do with anything his startup makes. It's understandable if you don't know who or what Rivian is. The company, founded in 2009, has around 350 employees, and its executive team is composed of designers and executives from Hummer maker AM General, Chrysler, McLaren and others. Its design headquarters are located outside of Detroit; there's also a pair of tech and research centers in California split between the San Francisco Bay Area and Irvine. Rivian is led by Scaringe, a 35-year-old MIT grad. Previously he founded Mainstream Motors, working on a fuel-efficient vehicle before pivoting to EVs in 2012. Even more than other tech companies, this one's plans have been shrouded in secrecy -- it was important to Scaringe that his company have something to show before making promises he couldn't keep.
