Rivian will start delivering the R1S electric SUV to customers in August or September.
The electric car startup has been ramping up production of the R1T and R1S this year and in Q2, built 4,401 vehicles and delivered 4,467. Up until now, the R1T truck has been the only model reaching the hands of private customers but that will soon change.
While recently speaking with Auto News, Rivian chief executive RJ Scaringe said that the first units of the R1S were actually delivered in December last year but they only went to company executives, including himself. Reservation holders will begin to receive their cars in August or September.
Read More: Rivian Almost Doubles Production Numbers In Second Quarter Over The First
Rivian has more than 90,000 reservations for the R1T and R1S but has not specified what the split is between the truck and the SUV. AutoPacific industry analyst Robby DeGraff says the R1S has the potential to be more popular than the R1T.
“Apart from the aging, pricey Model X, we haven’t had another EV with three rows of seats — only had a handful of plug-in hybrid vehicles,” he said. “The R1S will cater to a much wider net of consumers, like active families or individuals who’ve been waiting for an EV with more seats and cargo room.”
“Rugged SUVs are hot right now. All the greatness Rivian’s promised about its R1T, like impressive off-road chops and towing capability, for example, is essentially mirrored onto the R1S, just via a more accommodating, approachable body style.”
Rivian hopes to have produced 25,000 vehicles by the time 2022 wraps up, in line with its revised targets after it – like most other car manufacturers – had to overcome supply chain challenges. The automaker’s sole factory in Normal, Illinois has an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles and plans are in place to increase this to 200,000 by 2023.
