A History of Rivian (via its webpage) - Part 1

[tps5352]

About the Poll

Early in Rivian's history, the initial goal was to create and market an affordable yet performance-laden hybrid sports car (the "R1"). That task was put aside in late 2011/early 2012 in order to change course and develop what would become among the first successful, off-road capable, battery-electric, sport-recreational vehicles available to North American consumers—the R1T pickup and R1S SUV.

Some sources that discuss all this:

• Rivian Should Revive Its Original Electric Sports Car (February 12, 2020)
• Rivian Made A Sports Car Then Put The Project On Pause In 2011 (September 30, 2021)
• Rivian CEO Says the Rivian Sports Car Is “Shelved.” Does That Mean There’s Still a Chance? (September 29, 2021)
• Before his battery behemoths, Rivian’s billionaire founder made an eco sports car (November 21, 2022)

OK; so after the (presumed successful) release of the R2 (2026) and R3 (2027) what if Rivian once again focused its now considerable resources back towards a performance road vehicle?

Based solely on some dated photographs and on what you know about the Company now, would you be interested?

Two beautiful and Intriguing concepts by designer Aaron Pizzuti.​

Note (3/26/25): If any new reader is wondering what I am talking about and where the supposed poll is, that's the $64,000 question.

(For younger readers, what does "$64,000 question" mean? At that same Wikipedia source see the use of the phrase as an 'idiom' under "In popular culture.")​

​

Anyway, concerning the lost poll, apparently there may be some server/software gremlin. Will we ever see the Rivian R1 sports car poll again? Does anyone care? Stay tuned.

*****


Part 1 – Becoming Rivian (the early years)

Most of the things worth doing in the world had been
declared impossible before they were done.
-- Louis D. Brandeis​

Background

• 01/19/83 - Robert Joseph "RJ" Scaringe born. Growing up, his interests included cars, mechanics, and the outdoors. (one Source, of many)
  |
• 1986 - Robert P. Scaringe (father of RJ) founds Mainstream Engineering Corporation, manufacturer of advanced, sophisticated heating/cooling systems, in Rockledge, Florida.
  |
• RJ's higher education:
  • 2005 – B.S. (Bachelor's) degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (New York).
  • 2007 – S.M. (Master's) degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
  • 2009 – Ph.D. (doctorate) from MIT's Sloan Automotive Lab. (Thesis: "Extension of the high load limit in the Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition engine." Source.)

Ph.D. thesis title page​

Would this type of engine have been
used in the eventual hybrid R1 sports car?​

Company History (via the Avera/Rivian.com website and blog; plus other online sources)

• 2009 – RJ Scaringe (age 26), as sole employee, founds Mainstream Motors (later "Avera" ("America" + "verde" + "terra" Automotive [Reference]), occupying a modest building in Mainstream Engineering’s eight-acre campus. Initial investors included his father, R. P. Scaringe. Original Goal: development of affordable, high-mileage, mid-engine, diesel, hybrid sports car (the "R1").

Note: While clearly well-off as a family, both Scaringes (father and son) nonetheless felt the need to mortgage homes in order to raise the initial capital needed. (Source)​

​

Some take-aways? In today's world, the resources needed to create an ultimately successful car company are vast and the challenges daunting. What twenty-something individual actually attempts to do something like this? What kind of drive, ambition, and confidence (i.e., "chutzpah") are needed to take on such a challenge?​

• 05/29/10 - Head of a team of about 15 engineer-employees, RJ discusses the Avera car. (Reference)

~2010. Who is that boyish fellow? (Source)​

• 10/01/10 – RJ writes about (and teases) the Avera (subsequently re-named Rivian) car.

Source​

Source​

• 02/05/11 – (Legal) Objections to use of the name "Avera" from the Hyundai Motor Company necessitate a name change. (Source)

Source​

• 03/10/11 – New name announced: “Rivian Automotive” (from the “Indian River” brackish-water lagoon area in Florida, apparently a favorite recreation spot for the young Scaringe). (Reference)

Source (Images 1 & 2)​

Source​

Source​

• 04/29/11 – The east-central-coastal Florida area hopes to replace lost NASA jobs with new ones at Rivian.

Source​

• 06/29/11 – Rivian is acknowledged by Obama Administration.

Source​

• 07/21/11 – Rivian hires McLaren F1 Designer Peter Stevens. Rivian attracts National Media attention (e.g., NPR).

Source (Images 1 & 2)​

Original R1 (Peter Stevens Design)​

• 08/16/11 – A brash(?), confident, even cocky(?) new company, teasing readers (about the new sports car).

Source (Images 1-6)​
		Source​	| Source​

​

• 09/14/11 - RJ honored as Florida “Entrepreneur of the Year.”

Source (Images 1 & 2)​

​

• 11/08/11 – On website, things are stable. But behind the scenes, a major decision (leading to big changes) is being made.

Source​

• Sometime in (late) 2011 – Plans to manufacture the sports car are cancelled!

“In its first two years, Rivian’s main focus was on developing an electric sports car. But in 2011, Scaringe took a step back to reexamine his company’s priorities.​

“'It became increasingly clear that we weren’t answering a question that the world needs an answer to,' says Scaringe. He and his team took the bold move to scrap their work on an electric sports car and really consider what the world needs. They landed on their raison d'être: to develop electric vehicles that promote an active lifestyle and facilitate trips that would generate lifelong memories.” (Reference) (Emphasis added.)​

“With a new sense of purpose, Scaringe scrapped the sports car project and spent the better part of the next decade developing technology. That included an advanced battery capable of powering a car for 400 miles (644 kilometers), as well as a flexible, self-contained skateboard chassis that holds a vehicle’s battery pack, suspension and electric motors for propulsion.” (Reference) (Emphasis added.)​

Source (Images 1 & 2)​

The "shelved" R1 sports car.​

• 05/09/12 – No big announcement on the website. Some (now) out-of-date info about the (defunct) sports car remains.

Source​

Source​

• 2012-2016 – In comparison to previous years, the Rivian website goes relatively 'radio silent.' (But things were happening behind the curtain. The search for deep-pocket investors and financial backing? Staffing changes? Endless late-night bull sessions? Re-designing? Big planning? Figurative and literal expansion out of Florida? The search for a factory? All of that and more, probably.)

"R.J. Scaringe, has [since] said he learned the value of silence after his company dramatically changed course six years ago [when they ditched the hybrid sports car]—the same pivot that [eventually] brought him to Normal." (Reference) (Emphasis added.)​

​

"And because of frankly some of the things we talked too much about in the early days, we made the decision to go deep into stealth mode, and to avoid the distraction of committing to things and making statements that are highly likely to change," Scaringe to WGLT (Bloomington Public Media). (Reference) (Emphasis added.)​

• 2013 - Rivian operations move from (Rockledge) Florida to (Livonia ) Michigan. (Source, and Reference.)

Source​

• 2015 - Rivian receives a large influx of investment capital (from at least one confidential investor); research facilities are subsequently opened in (Plymouth) Michigan (vehicle engineering and design), Irvine, California (battery system development), and the south San Francisco Bay (Silicon Valley) area (self-driving tech and connectivity). (Reference)

• 11/23/15 – The webpage reveals a public search for new engineering, design, strategy, and operations personnel (suggesting Rivian's success at securing investment). Despite what could have been a jarring (and for some, even lethal) mid-stream course correction, Scaringe's dream and his message must have proven effective with investors, financial institutions, and employees.

Source (Images 1-3)​

So what resulted? Something was coming...​

Source​

• September 2016 – Rivian is in negotiations “to buy a manufacturing plant formerly owned by Mitsubishi Motors in Normal, Illinois.” Goals at this point supposedly included autonomous vehicles, ride-sharing, and driverless cars. (Reference) (See also this 12/09/16 source.)

• 12/11/16 – Finally, a tiny hint of that something new…

Source​

• 12/14/16 - RJ discusses (profound) automobile philosophy; he predicts Rivian car production in 2019; purchase by 2020. (Reference)

• 01/09/17 - According to Electrek, Rivian now has about 100 employees. Key personnel with car-making experience include:
  |
  • Lawrence Achram (formerly of Chrysler) - chief engineer of the vehicle program.
  • Gary Gloceri (Magna, Ford) - electric powertrain.
  • Winfield Coachman (Chrysler) - energy storage.
  • Larry Erickson (GM, Ford) - vehicle design.

• 01/11/17 – (Similar to Tesla buying the ex-GM-Toyota Fremont, California automotive plant in 2010) Rivian purchases the former Mitsubishi Normal, Illinois auto manufacturing plant! (Reference). (The price was relatively low, at $16 million. Reference) Rivian plans to invest $175 million in the plant and create 1,000 jobs for the area (Reference). (See also this site.) (See this source for info about tax credits granted to Rivian by Illinois.)

Source​

• March 2017 - Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner visits the 'new' Normal Plant.

Source​

• 06/28/17 – Another glimpse inside the Normal, Illinois plant. About 128 employees. (Source)

Source (Images 1-4)​

• 2017 - Rivian files patents with U.S. government.

One Rivian patent illustration. Source​

• December 2017 - "Rivian revealed its first two products: an electric five-passenger pickup truck and an electric seven-passenger SUV, provisionally named the A1T and A1C, respectively." (Reference)

• 12/12/17 - Rivian receives finacial investment from Sumitomo Corporation. (Source. See also archived 23/23/27 article here. See more in 05/23/18 bullet, below.)

• 12/23/17 – First images suggesting vehicles designed to tackle the Great Outdoors!
  |
  This, plus content about:
  |
  - Leadership Team
  - Careers (filling positions)
  - Press (PR & Marketing)
  - Advertising
  - Legal
  |
  suggests continuing progress towards,...what? (In hindsight, we all know.)

Source (Images 1 & 2)​

​

• 01/19/18 – Rivian now has about 250 employees. (Reference) First website mention of the (future) truck and SUV models?

Source (Images 1 & 2)​

• 05/23/18 - Interview with The Verge--RJ answers question about why, what, and where. Hopes to expand from North America to Europe and China. Developing a Level 3 self-driving system. Around 350 employees. Financial backing from Sumitomo Corporation of America and Abdul Latif Jameel. (Source) (See, also 5/23/18 archived article here, and interesting 05/21/18 article here, comparing R1S and Tesla Model X.)

• 06/19/18 - Rivian reveals its "skateboard" chassis at a professional conference in Michigan. (Source. See also this article.) Here is a video (on Vimeo) of RJ's presentation at that "Designing the Future Summit 2018" (Lean Enterprise Institute). (About 400 employees.)

Rivian "skateboard" chassis.​

• 08/11/18 - Vimeo Rivian video by "Digital. Brand. Accelerator.™" Oui Will. (Crude translation for us folks more familiar with the "Mad Men"-like advertising of the 1960s: Promotional video, intended for the Internet and for digital media, I imagine.) Once again, the "skateboard platform" design is highlighted.

• 08/31/18 – All this new energy and activity results, not surprisingly, in new webpage imagery and messaging.

Source​

• 10/23/18 – Plus, a new logo!

Source​

• 11/15/18 - "Rivian releases debut video of R1T Electric Adventure Vehicle"

• 11/26 & 27/18 - Car and Driver takes a preliminary look at the R1T (Source) and R1S (Source).

• 11/27/18 - Vimeo video of launch of R1T at Griffith Observatory (Los Angeles, California). Another Vimeo video promoting the R1T pickup. (Maybe available online and at the LA Auto Show?) A third Vimeo video of RJ presenting the R1T and R1S at (I presume) the LA Auto Show. Needless to say, there are many Rivian-related videos available at Vimeo. (Also at DPC Cars website--possible one-time contractor for Rivian?)

Reveal of R1T at Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, (with Rivian at the LA Auto Show).​

By the way, this R1T event and Rivian at the LA Auto Show was also
reported on live in some detail (with photos) on this Forum site
---> here <--- by the @Administrator.​

Sidebar: It is, of course, no coincidence that the resurgence of the rivian.com website, the introduction of the R1T and R1S (e.g., in Los Angeles), and the creation of rivianforums.com all occurred at about the same time. Akin to a Paris/Rome/New York fashion-design runway event, Rivian was spending some money (in several ways) to re-introduce itself to the public. And if you happen to be an early (Rivian) enthusiast and want to create a new and eventually successful Internet forum site--which ultimately requires (a) eyeballs looking at screens and (b) sponsorship--what better time? There were suddenly actual, physical (almost real--I suspect that they were not 100% fully functional) examples of the (previously rumored) products suddenly available to see (as opposed to just pure "vaporware"). Rivian had come out of "stealth mode" and in a relatively big way. And the new Rivian Forums site had something exciting to report on. Win-win, right?​

​

Like the apocryphal (but, sadly, probably true) claim that most New Yorkers have never visited the Statue of Liberty, how many Forum members have never examined the earliest posts? (For a long time, guilty as charged.) Prompted by a post from @RivianRiverRat, here is a list of some pertinent early threads (all by @Administrator) that provide confirmation (about facts reported here) as well as being a source of additional first-hand information regarding the exciting late-2018 period of promotional activities:​

• Rivian R1T All-Electric Pickup Truck Revealed: 0-60 in 3 secs, 400 mile range, tows 11,000 pounds (11/26/18)​
• First Real-Life Looks at Rivian R1T Pickup Truck (11/27/18)​
• Rivian R1S Electric SUV Debuts in Los Angeles (11/27/18)​
• Rivian Logo - What it means (11/27/18)​
• Rivian founder RJ Scaringe showed off his R1T to investors and celebrities at Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. (11/27/18)​
• A Look at the Rivian R1T and R1S "Skateboard" Chassis (11/27/18)​
• Video Preview of Rivian's Infotainment / Digital Dash Technology (11/27/18)​
• Can the Rivian R1T wade through water? (11/27/18)​
• Rivian R1T Photos from the LA Auto Show (11/28/18)​

As mentioned, I had already gathered and reported some of the same information (e.g., facts, photos, videos, etc.) in this history before examining the Threads listed above. As it happens, I acquired the information second- (or third-) hand from a different direction (e.g., starting with the archived Rivian website pages). While I'm glad to see overlap and verification, nonetheless I could have saved myself some effort if I had simply dug a little deeper into this Forum. (C'est la vie.)​

• 11/28/18 - Pre-orders are (finally) possible! And there are actual (beautiful) images of the two cars! The webpage really blossoms (once again).

	Source (Images 1-5)​
Source (Images 6-8)​

• 11/30/18 - Rivian (mock-up) cars on display at LA Auto Show.

R1T at 2018 LA Auto Show​

R1S at 2018 LA Auto Show​

Here is an interesting and informative YouTube interview
from the 2018 LA Auto Show with Rivian's Mark Vinnels:
Rivian - Electric Adventure Vehicle | Fully Charged.
(Thanks to @MountainBikeDude for that reference.)​

• 12/20/18 - Preeminent American rock climber Alex Honnold announces on his social media a (business) collaboration with Rivian.​

Source (Images 1 & 2)​

Alex Honnold & Sanni McCandless, and (pre- production) Rivian R1T​

• late 2018 - About 560 employees (Source); to be 750 by February 2019 (Source).

At the end of 2018, with a successful two-model introduction at the Los Angeles
Auto Show and growing recognition among outdoor enthusiasts,
new partners were about to come calling...


- End of Part 1 -​

Note:

• Part 2 (if and when it arrives) will venture into territory well-known to some Forum members--e.g., an up to three-year wait for pre-ordered cars to be delivered; a 13,000-mile R1T-prototype road trip; new (legal, financial, design) challenges; and more.

Some General References

• The Wayback Machine at the Internet Archive site.
• "Our Story - Building a new kind of car company" - July 5, 2018
• Cool Rivian facts & history - 02/26/19
• Rivian - Wikipedia
• A History Timeline About Rivian
• Future 50 - A New Generation of Leaders Has Arrived
• Transportation Transformation - Rensselaer Alumni Magazine, Fall 2019
• Alumni Profile: RJ Scaringe SM ’07, PhD ‘09 - MITMECHE - 11/24/19
• Meet the CEO: RJ Scaringe of electric vehicle maker Rivian - BuisinessChief - 11/03/21
• Who is Rivian’s billionaire founder R.J. Scaringe? - CNBC - 11/11/21
• 5 years of Rivian: From 'stealth mode' to one of the biggest IPOs in American history - 12/07/21
• 5 Things You Might Not Know About Rivian Founder RJ Scaringe - BENZINGA - 05/11/22
• Meet R.J. Scaringe, Founder Of Rivian Automotive—And Tesla’s Worst Nightmare - Forbes Wheels - 02/08/19
• Article: Rivian’s CEO created buzzy, outdoorsy EVs. Now big automakers are coming after it - 11/22/22
• Rivian: The history and future of an up-and-coming EV automaker - February 2025

Addendum - This information is intended solely for (free) educational purposes. (Sadly) I am not receiving compensation of any kind from anyone for this compilation.

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[SadHill]

Great job so far!!!

 

[COdogman]

Nice OSINT project! Thanks for doing that.

 

[Riviot]

 

[tps5352]

Great job so far!!!

Thanks. I think I need to reference (with web addresses) all the images. And I'd like to fill in some of the blanks with more info--what was going on behind the scenes.

 

[MountainBikeDude]

I didn't realize until now, that Mason, originally their powertrain integration engineer, had been with them since Rivian early days.

Neat trip down Rivian memory lane.

 

[tps5352]

OK, I had to research this one. It's from the opening of the "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" (1979-81) TV show (which had particularly beautiful female actresses, as my young self recalls).

 

[tps5352]

• First-time readers: Just wanted to plug this history-of-Rivian effort (OP, Post #1). It's a look at the early (first 10) years.
  |
• Previous readers: I've added quite a lot of new entries and sources. Please see if there are any significant news items (2009-2018) that should be added.

Part 2 (2019-?), when it eventually comes, will include the (frustrating) pre-order years, maybe up to the first deliveries(?).

 

[MountainBikeDude]

• First-time readers: Just wanted to plug this history-of-Rivian effort. It's a look at the early (first 10) years.
  |
• Previous readers: I've added quite a lot of new entries and sources. Please see if there are any significant news items (2009-2018) that should be added.

Part 2 (2019-?), when it eventually comes, will include the (frustrating) pre-order years, maybe up to the first deliveries(?).

If I can suggest a video for the 2018 LA Autoshow reveal, FullyCharged did a great interview with the late Mark Vinnells as well as Brian Gase lurking in the background with the R1T. The video really showcased the aspirations of the vehicle and some of the features which didn't make it fully to production.

Edit*
This video was the main driving factor for me putting down my deposit, and ultimately following through with the purchase.

 

[tps5352]

If I can suggest a video for the 2018 LA Autoshow reveal, FullyCharged did a great interview with the late Mark Vinnells as well as Brian Gase lurking in the background with the R1T. The video really showcased the aspirations of the vehicle and some of the features which didn't make it fully to production...
This video was the main driving factor for me putting down my deposit, and ultimately following through with the purchase...

Excellent! Because of the published date (Jan 10, 2019) I was going to leave mention of that video and its contents until a (later) Part 2. But thanks to your suggestion I watched it fully and agree--it should go in Part 1, as it shows and reveals what attendees at the 2018 LA Auto Show would have seen and heard.

Thanks!

 

[iansriv]

• First-time readers: Just wanted to plug this history-of-Rivian effort. It's a look at the early (first 10) years.
  |
• Previous readers: I've added quite a lot of new entries and sources. Please see if there are any significant news items (2009-2018) that should be added.

Part 2 (2019-?), when it eventually comes, will include the (frustrating) pre-order years, maybe up to the first deliveries(?).

This is brilliant! You should make a movie out of this. Tom Cruise can play me.

 

[tps5352]

This is brilliant! You should make a movie out of this. Tom Cruise can play me.

Thank you. You got it. When Hollywood comes calling with a fat advance and a deal for "points" I will be sure to negotiate on your behalf. Wait! (And my apologies.) What is it that you do? Perhaps you're a VP in the Company? A hot-shot designer? PR? Custodial engineer? Night watchman? Tom is not going to come on board unless the role has "teeth."

Tom Cruise, as
Studio Executive "Les Grossman"
in 2008's "Tropic Thunder"​

 

[Dark-Fx]

This is brilliant! You should make a movie out of this. Tom Cruise can play me.

I didn't know you were short.

 

[iansriv]

You got it. When Hollywood comes calling with a fat advance and a deal for "points" I will be sure to negotiate on your behalf. Wait! (And my apologies.) What is it that you do? Perhaps a VP in the Company? Designer? PR? Custodial engineer? Tom is not going to come on board unless the role has "teeth."

I was thinking more along the lines of "Good Will Hunting" where I have a minimal job at Rivian but am uber brilliant and come up with the most brilliant idea-no Apple Car Play!

 

[iansriv]

I didn't know you were short.

Good point. Chris Helmsworth it is then.

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