Rivian R1T Crash: EV Truck Slams Into Parked Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Ford Explorer
The upcoming Tesla Cybertruck and Ford F-150 Lightning have garnered a considerable amount of media attention. As the EV era goes into full force, the electrification of pickup trucks is a significant milestone. Start-up Rivian aims to steal the thunder of the Cybertruck and F-150 Lightning with the Rivian R1T, which will likely be the first EV truck to be available for customers. However, Rivian now faces some unfortunate publicity as a Rivian R1T crashed into a parked Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Ford Explorer.
Rivian R1T accident in Irvine, California
The buzz for the Rivian R1T has been rapidly gaining steam, as the production of the electric truck started several days ago. However, by all indications, the truck in the crash was not a production version for a customer. This is because it was wrapped in blue and gray camouflage.
The accident, which was shared by someone on Rivian Forums, was in a parking lot in Irvine, California. The corporate headquarters for Rivian is in Irvine. While it was not a serious accident, it was undoubtedly very costly, for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a very pricy car. In addition to the S-Class, the Rivian R1T hit a Ford Explorer, which experienced the most severe damage. The front-end of the Explorer received a blow from the Rivian R1T.
It’s not entirely clear what caused the accident. However, it’s likely that the Rivian R1T left the main road after the driver lost control of the truck. From there, it plowed through a bush before slamming into the parked S-Class and Explorer.
Is the Rivian R1T a dangerous truck?
By all accounts, the Rivian R1T survived the crash with no structural damage. This could raise a concern about the danger of the Rivian R1T to other cars on the road. There is a growing fear that the increasingly large size of modern trucks like the Rivian R1T are a hazard to smaller vehicles when getting into an accident.
Another concerning aspect of the accident is the probability that the driver of the Rivian R1T lost control of the truck. The R1T is a new and relatively untested model, so there are no guarantees about its safety. While drivers of sports cars losing control is a common occurrence, it’s not something that we see too often with a truck.
However, this is all speculation. Since we don’t know for certain what exactly happened with the Rivian R1T crash, it’s premature to blame the truck itself for it. Another possibility is that the R1T driver swerved to avoid another car.
When will a production version of the Rivian R1T be available for customers?
Production of the R1T is ramping up, and the electric truck is slated to be available for customers by the end of 2021. A Launch Edition will be the first trim to be available. Later, a more affordable Explore trim will follow suit.
In all likelihood, the accident won’t quell enthusiasm for the Rivian R1T. While the crash with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the Ford Explorer is an unfortunate and embarrassing incident for Rivian, it’s probably just an isolated incident. This is the first known case of an R1T collision. Hopefully, it won’t be a frequent occurrence.
