When it was first released in 2021, the Rivian R1T pickup truck was largely unknown to consumers. After a few years on the market, the R1T is currently enjoying a year-over-year growth of 84%. Let’s learn about how this truck came to be and if it’s worth having in your garage.

Who is Rivian owned by?

Unlike a few other luxury car brands, Rivian isn’t owned by any other major automaker. The company was founded by RJ Scaringe in 2009, and he still oversees the company’s major operations today as CEO. Is Rivian owned by Ford? Not exactly… but Amazon and Ford both still retain a large stake in Rivian stock because it’s a publicly traded company.

Rivian’s first vehicle was a hybrid sports car, but that model never made it to mass production. Instead, Rivian shifted its focus towards completely electric cars. The company has made SUVs, trucks, and even a delivery van model for Amazon. 

Is Rivian a good vehicle?

Based on its specs and support from consumers, we can confidently say that the Rivian R1T is a good fully electric pickup truck. According to GoodCarBadCar, over 4,300 buyers have purchased one during 2023’s second quarter. The Rivian R1T sold a mere 700 units in Q2 2022.

The Rivian R1T offers a quad-motor powertrain configuration in addition to the base trim, and an upgraded version of the base dual-motor setup. These each pair with all-wheel-drive. Its standard setup produces 600 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque, or 665 hp and 829 lb-ft of torque if you get the Performance dual-motor upgrade. The available quad-motor system generates a combined 835 hp and 908 lb-ft of torque. The Rivian R1T can get anywhere between 260-400 miles of range, depending on your battery selection. 

This truck only has a 6-foot-4-in cargo box available, but you can still carry a reasonable 1,760 lbs inside. The Rivian R1T also has its own frunk and a vertical gear tunnel to store more items. You can pull up to 11,000 lbs with a tow hitch. The Rivian R1T electric pickup truck also goes off-road thanks to its segment-leading ground clearance of nearly 15 inches and a 100% rock-crawling grade. 

With such promising features, some may wonder why the Rivian R1T isn’t more popular. For starters, Rivian is known for encountering production issues that delay the delivery of its vehicles. The company also made headlines a few months ago over a $42,000 bumper repair for an R1T. Due to this vehicle’s unique exterior body construction, mechanics often have to remove the entire ceiling or bumper to address even the simplest issues. The Rivian R1T is already expensive on its own without worrying about outrageous repair bills. 

How much does a fully loaded Rivian R1T cost?

A Rivian R1T Adventure can be purchased for $73,000 with the standard powertrain and battery pack. The quad-motor setup costs an extra $8,000 and also requires the Max battery for $6,000. One of the R1T’s many premium paint colors will cost $2,500 and you can fork over $3,850 if you want the All-Terrain package.

Certain wood interior materials also cost extra. Rivian offers a few exterior upgrades like paint protection film and a tonneau cover. You can add a wall charger to your order for $750, or your choice between several pieces of adventuring gear. After you add every cargo mount and kit to your order, the Rivian R1T costs $103,900. 

Obviously, such an expensive asking price might deter some buyers from taking a chance on this truck. Because Rivian is so new to the automotive world, it’s hard to make judgments about the reliability of these cars. Even so, it appears that the Rivian R1T’s charms are finally too irresistible for buyers to pass up. 

Want to know more about the Rivian R1T? Check out our article about how popular it is compared to other midsize trucks. Or, see more from CEO RJ Scaringe on who owns Rivian Stocks, the upcoming R2, and the company’s future in the video below.