Rivian R1T Production Improves But Overall Output Still Quite Low

Every automaker on the planet – Ford included – has struggled to produce vehicles over the past year-plus amid a number of pandemic-induced supply chain constraints, chiefly the semiconductor chip shortage. That includes upstart EV automaker Rivian, which just launched its very first model – the R1T pickup – back in September. In just a few months, Rivian managed to produce a total of 1,015 R1Ts and R1S SUVs, which isn’t a lot. However, it seems that Rivian R1T production is improving, according to a new report from Bloomberg.

The automaker is reportedly ramping up production of the Rivian R1T to 200 units per week following some early woes, though it recently had to pause production at its Normal, Illinois plant for a week earlier this month to make some improvements and fixes, as well as deal with supply chain problems and a COVID-19 outbreak. Through December, Rivian was building around 50 units per week, so this represents a big improvement, though the company still has a long way to go to fill all of its 71,000 preorders for the R1T and R1S while also building EV vans for Amazon. To date, only a handful of R1S models have been produced.

Regardless, Rivian previously said that its Normal plant will be capable of producing 150,000 vehicles a year by 2023 with a goal of reaching 200,000 later on, and the automaker recently announced that it will build its second facility in Georgia, which will be capable of building upwards of 400,000 units annually after it opens in 2024.

Rivian did recently delay the R1T’s Max Pack and Adventure Package to 2023, but it isn’t alone in its production struggles. Just last night, Tesla announced that it was delaying the launch of the Cybertruck for the third time due to supply constraints, in fact. Meanwhile, even though Ford and Rivian scrapped plans to build an EV together, the Ford F-150 Lightning is on track for a launch this spring, though Ford won’t be able to fill all of its reservations in 2022 due to production constraints.

We’ll have more on Rivian and the R1T soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Rivian news and non-stop Ford news coverage.