General Motors is ramping up its all-electric vehicle efforts with plans to launch 30 new EVs globally by 2025. To that end, The General is also evaluating the EVs currently available, including the Rivian R1T pickup, as evidenced by these new spy photos.
GM was seen benchmarking the new Rivian R1T EV pickup truck on roads around the GM Milford Proving Grounds. The Rivian R1T is the first all-electric pickup truck to market, and as such, serves as a benchmark for the upcoming all-electric Chevy Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV.
This particular example of the Rivian R1T is seen with a temporary registration in the photos featured here, but was subsequently spotted with manufacturer “M” plates as it circled the perimeter of the GM Proving Grounds. What’s more, the truck was seen parked behind GM’s “No Trespassing” signs, cementing that this is indeed a GM-owned vehicle.
The Rivian R1T is the California-based all-electric startup’s very first vehicle, and is offered in three trim levels, including the base-level Explore, starting at $67,500, the Adventure, starting at $73,000, and the Launch Edition, starting at $85,000. Powertrain specs include a quad-motor setup providing all-wheel drive, or a dual-motor setup, also providing all-wheel drive. The quad motors will dole out over 800 horsepower and 900 pound-feet of torque, while the dual motors dole out more than 600 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque. Battery pack options vary, ranging as high as 400 miles with the Max pack, while the Large pack offer 320 miles. The Standard pack, which will be available in 2024, provides 260 miles of range.
Notable tech includes Driver+ mode, a semi-autonomous driver assist system that will automatically steer and adjust the vehicle speed. The Rivian R1T also boasts off-roading chops that allow it to wade through more than 3 feet of water, as well as 14.9 inches of ground clearance.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more General Motors competition news, General Motors electric vehicle news, General Motors technology news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Generally following the market trend.
Plus, special leases on all-new premium three-row crossover.
Refreshed SUV in crisp, clean colors.
Top-dog Caddy hits the racetrack.
Spec the third-gen crossover as you see fit.
View Comments
No this serves the purpose for the upcoming midsized pickup more than anything.
The R1T is kind of in-between full and midsize though, but leans more toward full size.
It also has a 1,700 lb payload and 11,000 lb towing capacity.
The Rivian is manufactured in the former Mitsubishi plant outside of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. This is a truck that makes sense. They are developing and have tested an SUV based on the platform. Interesting features and loads of standard features the other makers haven't even given thought.
Maybe GM is playing copy-cat mode?
The Rivian makes sense? Not as a product. They are losing thousands on every one, and they aren't in a position to be doing that. They tried to correct the price and the backlash was too much so they backpedaled.
Check out their stock price or read their earnings report. They are going to need investors to keep dumping money into them for a while.
Yes, Rivian could fail and it not currently operating at a profit. However, do recall that Tesla didn’t make a profit for years and Tesla’s share price is still way out line with the company’s balance sheet. We will have to wait a while to see if Rivian has enough gas in the tank, or make that electrons in the battery, to make it past the initial buyer enthusiasm.
Backed by Amazon/Jeff Bezos, I highly doubt Rivian will fail. From all the information at hand, the engineering and execution of the R1T is solid, not mention the R1T has thoughtful features other manufactures are going to need to copy in order to compete once Rivian manages to get their manufacturing up to speed.
Truth. They will succeed.
I checked one out at RSF Cars and Coffee. It's awesome, plenty of storage and good looks. It is a full sized truck. It didn't have the built in BBQ, the owner said it's on order. It attracted a large crowd that's for sure!
How does GM get their hands on one when there are so few on the market? Rivian wouldn't give one to their competitors would they?
Are they benchmarking the Rivian for the future Colorado BEV Truck which is many years away I would imagine.
Would be great if they surprise us but highly doubtful.
Mfgs testing the competitions products is nothing new. Its what smart businessmen do. When I lived in Detroit the local newspaper constantly had inside stories of the big 3 from employees and it was common practice every new model year for all 3 to get a sample of the competitions cars & trucks and give them a test & close inspection. Sometimes they would just rent one. Other times they bought one if they were going to tear into it to see how something was built. Reverse engineering? Maybe. No matter what business you are in its best practices to all about your competition whether you are a car co, a coffee shop, a shoe maker or a weapons mfg.
The More You Know.
!
Yea that part of course makes sense - mostly I was curious HOW they got it so quickly
- Were they forward thinking enough to get one of the first reservations three years ago?
- Did they just pay someone for theirs?
- Is there some sort of agreement they call up their competitors and purchase/rent a vehicle?
At 9,000+ lbs the Hummer has no equal...
Thankfully.
You can add a little more vanilla to your donuts, without skipping a beat...
Its not likely GM can remove about 2,000 lbs from it's Hummer.
Based on videos from Out of Spec and Munro Engineering featuring the R1-T, “benchmark,” seems be a fitting term to apply to the Rivian vehicle.
The styling of the unconventional headlights is a bit polarizing among people I’ve talked with about the R1-T, but putting that aside, the truck has outstanding off-road chops, delivers promised driving range and makes good on the semi-autonomous driver assist. The R1-T really does set a bar that other EV trucks are going need to meet or surpass. The greatest downside is the cost, with entry level coming in at $67K and going up to $100K or maybe more for a fully outfitted ride.
Sandy Munro bought an R1-T presumably for a destructive engineering analysis but decided to keep it for himself to drive. At least that’s what Munro said in a video. You can never tell if there is an anterior motive or maybe some compensation behind the scene, of course.
Rivian is estimated to be able to produce 15,000 R1-T units per year and is building its products at the former Normal, Illinois Mitsubishi plant.
I forgot to mention the prices I mentioned are before any government tax credits, etc. are applied.