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UT Rivian

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Here’s a brief article about building smaller vehicles for China and Europe—certainly forward thinking for the company, though I would prefer to get my R1S ASAP! (Preferably with > 300 mile range...)

Smaller vehicles in store

Rivian CEO eyes smaller electric vehicles for China, Europe

November 18, 2020

DETROIT (Reuters) - Electric vehicle startup Rivian, which is backed by Amazon AMZN.O and Ford Motor Co F.N, on Wednesday said it plans to follow up its first two products, a full-size pickup and SUV, with smaller models targeted at China and Europe where it may eventually build some vehicles.

While Rivian plans to begin selling the SUV in Europe in 2022 and China soon after, “what will really drive volume in those markets is the follow-on products” that are smaller and tailored for overseas customers, Rivian founder and Chief Executive R.J. Scaringe told Reuters.

The smaller models, which are expected to share key components with the pickup and SUV, will “fit some of those other markets really well, in particular China,” Scaringe said.

“To really scale in those markets as we bring on follow-on products, having a production footprint outside the U.S. is going to be important,” he said. “That’s a ways off.”

Scaringe added: “We wouldn’t be serious about building a car company if we weren’t thinking about China and Europe as important markets long term.”

The company’s first plant in Normal, Illinois, has begun pilot production ahead of next year’s launch of three models - the R1T pickup and R1S SUV, which Scaringe described as “halo products” for Rivian, and a large electric delivery van for Amazon.

Speaking from a room overlooking the assembly line, Scaringe said the former Mitsubishi Motors plant reflects an unusual degree of vertical integration, with room for building motors and battery packs for the vehicles and for further expansion.

The Amazon delivery van is built on a version of the same platform, or basic underpinnings, used by the R1T and R1S.

Rivian has said deliveries of the pickup would start in June 2021, while those of the SUV would begin in August. Launch editions of the vehicles are priced at $75,000 and $77,500, respectively, with a 300-mile (480 km) driving range for both.

The electric pickup market will soon be crowded as Ford, General Motors Co GM.N and Tesla Inc TSLA.O, as well as several other startups, are developing similar models. Numerous automakers also are rolling out electric SUVs.

In July, Rivian, founded in 2009, boosted its war chest with a $2.5-billion investment round led by T. Rowe Price, raising total investment in the startup to $6 billion. Investors include Soros Fund Management, Fidelity and BlackRock BLK.N, as well as Saudi auto distributor Abdul Latif Jameel Co (ALJ).

Amazon, which has relationships and deals across the auto industry, led a $700 million investment round in Rivian last year.

The e-commerce company also ordered 100,000 electric vans from Rivian. The first Amazon vehicles go into production in Normal in late 2021, with all deliveries to be completed by 2024.

Scaringe said Rivian has begun setting up service centers and will deploy mobile units to handle maintenance and repair work on Amazon’s vans, as well as Rivian vehicles for retail customers.
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ElectricTrucking

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Here’s a brief article about building smaller vehicles for China and Europe—certainly forward thinking for the company, though I would prefer to get my R1S ASAP! (Preferably with > 300 mile range...)

Smaller vehicles in store
I'm sick of China but we should fill those containers heading back since they don't want our garbage any more.
 

RforRivian

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Not to get political... but I don't understand how companies can on one hand fight so hard for social equality and justice here in the states and on the other turn to China and say "Yeah, we'd love to do business with you." I mean look at what China did to Hong Kong just last year and companies are still chomping at the bits to get into that market. When companies are so two-faced about when and where they take a stand on human rights it makes it clear that it's not about doing the right thing... It's mostly just about their public image.
 

Pherdnut

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No mention of Australia is surprising. They don't need smaller vehicles in that market and GM left a ton of factories to scoop up.
 

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