A reporter from the Chicago Tribune was invited to test drive a Rivian R1T electric pickup truck along Chicago's posh North Shore, attracting gawkers to what is a rare sight, as downstate Illinois manufacturer Rivian previously declined to display the truck at the Chicago Auto Show.
Founded in 2009, Rivian is building an electric truck and SUV in Normal, Illinois, as well as 100,000 custom delivery vans for Amazon, an investor in the company. Rivian has raised about $10.5 billion from investors since 2019, a roster that also includes Ford Motor Co. and T. Rowe Price.
Rivian is planning an initial public offering (IPO) that has yet to be priced, but could raise at least $100 million, according to an Oct. 1 Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
Two models, the R1T truck ($73,000) and the R1S SUV ($75,000), will feature a 300-plus-mile range and go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds. The first trucks were produced in September, and the SUV is expected to launch in December, according to the IPO filing.
You can read all about the test drive here.
Rivian has 3,136 employees working at its Illinois production facility the Tribune says in its report. The company, which is headquartered in Irvine, California, has about 9,000 employees overall.
The Normal plant can produce up to 150,000 vehicles annually, with plans to ramp up to 200,000 vehicles by 2023, according to the IPO filing.
Source: Chicago Tribune
