Rivian has confirmed plans to start selling vehicles in Europe in early 2022.
The electric automaker confirmed the news in an email sent to prospective customers in Europe through the firm’s Customer Engagement Center. In the email shared online by the Rivian Owners Forum, Rivian said that “We plan to expand sales into Europe some time in early 2022!”
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Rivian is expected to start U.S. deliveries later this month while deliveries will start in Canada in November and it makes sense for the electric startup to also expand beyond North America. The email didn’t state if both the R1T and R1S are heading to the Old Continent. With that being said, the market for pickup trucks is much smaller in Europe than it is in North America, so it’ll be interesting to see whether the R1T pickup will be sold alongside the R1S SUV.
In late 2020, Rivian founder and chief executive R.J. Scaringe did confirm that the company would make smaller models aimed at the Chinese and European markets.
“To really scale in those markets as we bring on follow-on products, having a production footprint outside the U.S. is going to be important,” Scaringe said. “That’s a ways off. We wouldn’t be serious about building a car company if we weren’t thinking about China and Europe as important markets long term.”
Last month, Rivian provided us with a detailed look at the interior of the R1T. Depending on spec, the all-electric pickup can be equipped with vegan leather seats, ash wood trim, and a 100 per cent recycled microfiber headliner. It also features eight-way power-adjustable front seats with four-way power lumbar support and heating and ventilated functions.
