Michigan-based electric vehicle startup Rivian has begun making parts that will likely end up on pre-production prototype versions of its R1T electric pickup truck.
The company shared a photo gallery on Twitter this week showing freshly stamped body panels for the R1T, accompanied by a short caption reading "Busy making metal!"
Rivian debuted a concept version of the R1T at last year's Los Angeles Auto Show and plans to start selling the truck next year. It will offer have a number of motor–battery combinations to cover a number of price points, but the range-topping version will have a 180 kWh battery providing 400 miles of range. That rather large battery pack will power four independent 147 kWh electric motors, giving the truck around 800 horsepower. The company is also predicting a tow rating of 11,000 lb and a 0–97 km/h (0–60 mph) time of just 3.8 s.
Production of the Rivian R1T will take place in a former Mitsubishi factory located in Normal, Illinois. The automaker also showed off an electric SUV in LA based on the same skateboard chassis as the R1T called the R1S, which will also be produced at the Illinois facility.
Rivian will be offering test drives of the vehicles to interested customers as production commences in order to drum up hype for the relatively obscure EV brand. Pricing will also be announced closer to the on-sale date.
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