Rivian R1T takes shape: Watch the Tesla Cybertruck foe roll down its production line

The Rivian R1T is finally beginning to take shape, with the all-electric brand releasing a video of its pick-up truck rolling down the production line.

The teaser video suggests the coronavirus delays are now behind the US start-up, which had seen the retooling of its plant in Illinois, USA, put on hold. 

The brand has expected to a late-2020 on-sale date for its dual-cab truck in North America, ahead of an expected launch in Australia as early as 2022, but the pandemic through those dates into disarray.

The brand has since confirmed deliveries of the R1T won’t begin until June 2021 in the USA, with sales of its seven-seat SUV sibling, the R1S, slated to start in August 2021. While no update on Australia has been made to date, we’re expect local launch timings to blow out to 2023 given the delays. 

Still, it would appear production is now back on track, with the brand – which has attracted some US$2.8 billion in funding from Ford, Amazon and Cox Automotive – releasing a video that shows an R1t going from a shell to a new-finished product.

At the core of both the R1T and R1S is Rivian-designed ‘skateboard’ chassis that will house a 147kW electric motor at each wheel, producing a total 1400Nm of torque. Three battery options are on offer – at 105kW, 135kWh and 180kWh. 

The specs are every bit as impressive, with the The R1T claimed to hit 100km/h in around three seconds while being able to deliver a range between 370km and 650km.

The R1T’s US starting price is US$69,000, or about $105,000, but official Australian launch timing is yet to be confirmed. That said, the brand has confirmed right-hand drive production is in its roadmap, and has said our market is on its launch plan.