While Ford-backed EV automaker Rivian has enjoyed some critical success regarding its very first vehicle – the R1T pickup – over the last couple of months, it has also faced its fair share of production challenges as well. This is not surprising given the impact the semiconductor chip shortage has had on all automakers, but for a brand new, upstart company, it’s particularly devastating. Thus, it’s also not a surprise to learn that Rivian managed to produce just 1,015 vehicles in 2021 after the R1T entered production in September, according to Reuters.
That number falls just shy of the automaker’s target of 1,200 vehicles, which it blamed on supply constraints. A grand total of 920 of those vehicles have been delivered to customers, many of whom are employees, who had priority access to the first batch of R1T and R1S models that rolled off the assembly line at Rivian’s Normal, Illinois plant.
Rivian was very clear from the start that production of the R1T and R1S would be extremely limited for the first couple of years both are being produced. Regardless, it’s working to expand production as quickly as possible and has already confirmed that it has selected Georgia as the state where it will build its second plant. Most recently, Rivian announced that it was delaying the R1T Max Pack and Adventure Package trim to 2023, however.
Ford CEO Jim Farley recently revealed that the automaker was scrapping its plans to build a future EV on Rivian’s Skateboard platform but remains heavily invested in the upstart company with around a 12 percent stake. However, Farley has also made it clear that Rivian is a serious competitor to Ford, which was confirmed by the fact that Ford Authority spies recently spotted it benchmarking a Ford Mustang Mach-E.
We’ll have more on Rivian soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Rivian news and continuous Ford news coverage.
No Comments yet