US brand Rivian announces first deliveries of electric ute, SUV

The Rivian R1T ute has an electric range of 480km. Photos: Rivian

Rivian, the US electric vehicle manufacturer, has announced that deliveries of the Launch Edition ute will start from July and to be completed by early 2022.

Rivian produces the R1T ute and R1S SUV and the company says both vehicles are semi-autonomous and are designed for both on-road and off-road driving.

The R1T AND R1S have a range of 480km, with the ute priced from US$73,000 (NZ$100,000), and the SUV from US$75,500 (NZ$104,000).

All R1T and R1S Launch Edition preorder holders will hear from their Guide by the end of November with their expected delivery timing.

“We're kicking off our drive program in August — we can’t wait for you to get behind the wheel to experience the performance and handling of driving a Rivian,” says the brand in a statement.

The first cities visited include Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Detroit and Seattle, with more announced soon.

The electric R1T ute also includes a kitchen and tent as accessories.

“Our drive program includes two types of experiences — at-home drives and tour events. For our at-home drives, simply schedule the date and time that’s most convenient, and we will bring the vehicle to you,” said Rivian.

“You can choose an in-depth walk around by one of our team members or opt for a self-guided tour.”

The start-up brand is also including more accessories for the electric ute, including Camp Kitchen and pop-up tent.

At this stage, Rivian is selling its vehicles in the USA and Canada.