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John Mahoney8 Apr 2020
NEWS

Electric Rivian R1T pick-up launch delayed until 2021

Fledgling US start-up says R1T pick-up's delay is related to lockdown caused by COVID-19

Rivian has confirmed that it is pushing back the launch of its pure-electric R1T pick-up truck in the wake of the coronavirus.

Originally planned to be launched later this year, the US start-up says it will now aim to bring the battery-powered utility later on in 2021, depending on how long the lockdown remains in place.

Speaking to the factory workers, Rivian said that vehicles would no longer be rolling off the assembly line later this year as planned following the closure of all its facilities last month.

The delayed launch means the R1T is now set to go on sale in the same year as the Rivian R1S SUV, although there's unconfirmed reports the Tesla Model X-rival may have also been pushed back.

The Michigan-based firm will build both the R1T and closely-related R1S SUV at a former Mitsubishi factory, with the company boasting it was on track to build 'tens of thousands of vehicles' in the first few years.

When it finally arrives, the initial plan is to sell the R1T with three battery options offering 105kW, 135kWh and 180kWh.

Despite measuring 5.5-metres long and weighing a hefty 2.6 tonnes, the dual-cab truck pick-up is said to be capable of hitting 100km/h in around three seconds while being able to deliver a range of between 370km and 650km.

Perhaps more incredibly, thanks to its four 147kW electric motors, the R1T will offer 14,000Nm of torque.

To charge it, Rivian says it is working on a new 160kW fast-charging station but each truck comes with a more modest 11kW on-board charger.

The R1T features adjustable air suspension that can rise as much as 360mm to help it wade up to a metre of water. The only potential fly in the ointment is the battery-powered ute’s payload is limited to just 800kg.

Making up for that though is Rivian’s claim the R1T will be capable of towing up to 5000kg.

As well as its off-roading prowess, back on road the US truck-maker claims that when it goes on sale the R1T will come with Level 3 autonomous driving aids (hands-off, eyes off-road) but has not confirmed whether it will be active from launch.

Pricing in the US is said to begin at around $US69,000 ($A110,000). It's not known when both vehicles will arrive in Australia.

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