Rivian Confirms Production Delayed Until Next Summer

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

On Friday, electric vehicle startup Rivian said it expects to commence deliveries of its all-electric pickup and crossovers next summer — placing the company roughly 6 months behind schedule.

However, before we crap on the company for being another novice EV company that can’t hack it, it should be said that product delays are quickly becoming the norm within the industry. This postponement may be indicative of nothing more than Rivian confronting the same hardships experienced by practically every other automaker in operation — though cash should not be among them.

The company said in April to expect adjustments to its delivery timeline as it tackled issues stemming from the pandemic while prepping the former Diamond-Star Motors/Mitsubishi plant in Normal, IL.

Rivian is undoubtedly hoping its competition finds itself in a similar boat.

Tesla’s Cybertruck is supposed to begin production early in 2021 (at a Texas plant that has not yet begun construction). Ford and General Motors also have all-electric pickups scheduled for 2022, with the GMC Hummer EV supposedly coming before that. Each day Rivian fails to deliver is another day given to the competition.

According to the Rivian Forum, the R1T pickup will begin rolling off the main assembly line in June of 2021, with the R1S utility vehicle scheduled closely behind in August. The company plans to continue building in very limited numbers using its pilot production line in the interim period. That line is there mainly to help Rivian troubleshoot before factory retooling is complete and assist in the training of employees. It won’t be able to meet customer orders until next summer — including sizable orders placed by Amazon and whatever deal Ford currently has with the company.

[Image: Rivian]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • Geozinger Geozinger on Jul 27, 2020

    Start the Rivian Deathwatch.

    • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on Jul 27, 2020

      If Rivian doesn't deal with the Tesla lawsuit, I agree. Tesla could attach damages to every vehicle Rivian sells if there is a shred of Tesla IP in them, so Ford and Amazon will certainly be having vigorous discussions with Rivian about that.

  • Mcs Mcs on Jul 27, 2020

    @Poskey: "Tesla’s Cybertruck is supposed to begin production early in 2021 (at a Texas plant that has not yet begun construction)." That is 100% untrue. Construction has already started and there is visible progress. The site is swarmed with earth-moving machines and they're moving at a rapid pace. To me, it looks like they are moving faster than the china plant so far. The building is being built with prefab components so those are probably being constructed offsite somewhere. youtu.be/hHpewRm-brE?t=173

    • See 3 previous
    • Jkross22 Jkross22 on Jul 28, 2020

      @indi500fan Tesla doesn't need to get any better at building cars than they already are. They appear to have no shortage of customers willing to pay what Tesla wants. Despite the subpar build quality, their customers are not prioritizing build quality above prestige. Sounds similar to luxury Euro brands, no? Tesla has no incentive to make better cars.

  • Ronin It's one thing to stay tried and true to loyal past customers; you'll ensure a stream of revenue from your installed base- maybe every several years or so.It's another to attract net-new customers, who are dazzled by so many other attractive offerings that have more cargo capacity than that high-floored 4-Runner bed, and are not so scrunched in scrunchy front seats.Like with the FJ Cruiser: don't bother to update it, thereby saving money while explaining customers like it that way, all the way into oblivion. Not recognizing some customers like to actually have right rear visibility in their SUVs.
  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
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