Rivian R1T ute delayed to 2021

Wednesday, 8 April 2020

Rivian has pushed the launch of its R1T pick-up truck back a year as a result of coronavirus.

In a memo sent to customers on April 1, Rivian stated:

'While we expect some level of delay, we are working to minimise the disruption to our launch schedule and as we better understand the extent of the impact, you will be the first to know.'

We won't see the R1T in full production trim this year, unfortunately.

It doesn't look like an April Fools joke either, as the Chicago Tribune got in touch with Rivian and was told the R1T would debut 'in 2021.'

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Originally, the electric truck was pencilled in for late 2020. It would launch alongside the mechanically related R1S SUV, both using the same 'skateboard' platform that packages batteries underneath the floor with four electric motors, one for each wheel, that make a claimed 560kW of power and 1120Nm of torque.

The electric underpinnings make it easier for Rivian to engineer both left- and right-hand drive which means we can most likely expect Rivian's line-up to launch locally in due course. Rivian's chief engineer, Brian Gase, said last year that he wants to get the vehicles on sale down under as soon as possible.

'The truck makes sense in the Australian market. We see significant value, particularly with the SUV in right-hand drive markets. And we've commonised everything on the vehicles forward of the B-pillar, so by default, getting a right-hand-drive truck is a low barrier, because I've got a right-hand-drive SUV.'

'We have really focused on the off-road capability of these vehicles,' he said.

'We have 14-inches (350mm) of dynamic ground clearance, we have a structural underbody, we have all-time all-wheel drive so we can go up 45-degree inlines, and we can accelerate from zero to 60mph (96km/h) in 3.0 seconds.

He added: 'I can tow 10,000-pounds (4500kg). I've got a tent that I can throw onto the back of the truck, I've got 400-miles (640km) of range, I've got all-time all-wheel drive so I can do anything another vehicle can do, and then some.'

Ford has also invested in the fledgling manufacturer, to the tune of NZ$750 million. The Blue Oval wants to use Rivian's expertise in developing its own electric vehicles, although the upcoming all-electric F-150 will be all Ford. We probably won't see that until 2021 as well.