Starting in June, customers will start receiving shipments of the dual-motor Rivian R1S SUV and R1T pickup truck.
Rivian has reached a significant milestone with the production of its first dual-motor R1T electric pickup truck, equipped with the in-house developed Enduro drive unit. This marks the introduction of the Enduro drive unit to Rivian’s R1 series of adventure electric vehicles.
The inaugural dual-motor Rivian R1T successfully rolled off the assembly line at the company’s manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois on May 25th. Although Rivian had already commenced the production of Enduro drive units in February, the majority of them were installed in Rivian’s Electric Delivery Vehicles (EDV) specifically designed for Amazon.
While the Enduro drive unit is utilized in a single-motor, front-wheel-drive configuration for the EDV electric vans, it is employed in a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup for the R1S SUV and R1T pickup truck.
Rivian has stated that the launch of production for the dual-motor R1S and R1T models unlocks additional manufacturing capacity for the R1 lineup, while the quad-motor vehicles, which employ third-party drive units, continue to increase production volume.
Expressing his pride in the team’s achievements, Tim Fallon, Rivian’s Vice President of Manufacturing Operations, acknowledged the significance of introducing the Dual-Motor variants as a major milestone in maximizing the facility’s production capabilities. He commended the collaboration across various departments to accomplish this achievement.
Rivian has announced that the delivery of dual-motor R1S SUVs and R1T pickup trucks will commence in June, allowing customers to finally get their hands on these highly anticipated vehicles.
The dual-motor all-wheel-drive (AWD) powertrain, available in standard and Enhanced versions, delivers impressive performance figures. In standard guise, it produces over 600 horsepower and over 600 pound-feet of torque, while the Enhanced Dual-Motor AWD variant offers over 700 hp and over 700 lb-ft of torque. However, the quad-motor powertrain still reigns as the most potent option, boasting a staggering 835 hp and 908 lb-ft of torque.
Rivian has emphasized that the dual-motor powertrain is more energy-efficient compared to the current quad-motor setup provided by Bosch. This efficiency enhancement translates into increased range ratings for the R1T and R1S models. The R1T, equipped with the Max Pack battery and 21-inch wheels, can achieve a range of up to 400 miles, while the R1S attains up to 390 miles in the same configuration.
On the other hand, the quad-motor powertrain is exclusively offered with the Large Pack battery, enabling the R1T, fitted with 21-inch wheels, to travel up to 328 miles. The Dual-Motor R1T, equipped with the same battery and wheels, achieves a range of 350 miles.
In addition to their improved efficiency and performance, the dual-motor Rivian R1T and R1S models are more affordable compared to their quad-motor counterparts. The starting prices for the R1T and R1S, both equipped with the Standard battery pack and excluding shipping fees, are $73,000 and $78,000, respectively. Furthermore, these base models qualify for up to $7,500 in federal tax credits, making them even more appealing to potential buyers.
