Rivian R1S, R1T Electric Vehicles Coming June 2021 With a $75,000 Price Tag

Consumers have been waiting a long time for Rivian to come out with its first electric vehicles. While the automaker officially came out as an electric brand in 2009, it wasn't until 2018 until it unveiled its first vehicles – the R1S SUV and R1T pickup truck. While Rivian's shown off bits and pieces of the vehicles here and there, and discussed some specifications, nothing's really been official. With deliveries set to begin June 2021, Rivian is finally ready to provide some final details on the two vehicles.

R1T And R1S Are Around The Corner

Rivian plans to bring the first R1T and R1S to market June 2021. The two trims that will go on sale first are the Launch Edition. For the R1T, pricing starts at $75,000, while the R1S is slightly more expensive at $77,500. For the money, the Launch Editions come well-equipped. A surround-sound audio system, natural ash wood trim, vegan leather upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, yellow interior accents, Launch Green paint, 20-inch wheels, and all-terrain tires are all included as standard. An Off-Road Upgrade package is also standard, bringing two front bumper hooks, an air compressor, and underbody shields. When it comes to performance, the trims will come with a 300+ mile battery pack.

The next trim in the lineup is the Adventure. Pricing is identical to the Launch Edition, but these won't be delivered until January 2022. While they cost the same as the Launch Edition trims, they don't come with the same features. The Adventure doesn't come with the special badges, 20-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, special paint job, or special badges.  

Then, there are the Explore trims. These are the most affordable trims available, starting at $67,500 for the R1T and $70,000 for the R1S. The Explorer isn't as nicely equipped as the other two trims, but still comes with a manual tonneau cover, a standard audio system, matte black trim, heated seats, and a textile headliner. If you want to purchase one of Rivian's most affordable models, you'll have to wait until January 2022.

More Models Are Coming

Rivian made a lot of noise about its 400-mile battery, but that won't be available until January 2022. A lower, 250-mile battery pack will also be offered at that time. If you aren't interested in waiting for the larger battery pack, but have some concerns for a vehicle with 300 miles of range, Rivian plans to launch the Rivian Adventure Network, which is a set of fast-charging stations throughout the country. These stations will be able to add 140 miles of range in just 20 minutes.

Another new feature that Rivian recently came out with is its Driver+ system. It's a hands-free driving assistance system that will be included as standard on every model the automaker sells. Thanks to a suite that includes 11 cameras, five radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and a 360-degree field of view, the system can handle the majority of driving tasks on the highway on its own. All Rivian says is that the system can be used on select highways at launch with more road types coming over time.

Now that we have all of the details on the Rivian R1T and R1S, we have to say that we're incredibly excited to see both of these vehicles on the road. While Tesla and GMC are both working on electric competitors to the R1T, Rivian clearly beat everyone to the punch, which alone is worth a lot.