We were in northern California last week on another secret mission. During a long and boring drive through the central valley, we took a quick break at one of those truck stop/gas station/everything stores spaced every 50 miles or so along what has to be one of the most boring roads in America. To my surprise, I spotted a pickup just ahead of us that was something new. I had only read about the new Rivian electric pickup in The Wall Street Journal the day before. They’re not for sale yet, and this one (with manufacturer plates) was obviously on a test drive of some sort. On Interstate 5. Where they evidently wanted to keep it secret.
The guy in the truck was not too happy I was there with my Nikon, but hey, it is what it is. After the first shot, he kept moving between me and the Rivian. To the honchos at Rivian: Your guy tried. So did I.
The truck was a sharp-looking vehicle and I was impressed. I looked up a bit more about the company and the initial claims are impressive…a range of something like 300 miles, and a 0-60 time of 3 seconds. The price is going to be $70K or $75K, with no dealers to jack that up. The Rivian is being sold direct to the consumer, similar to what CSC does with its motorcycles. The dealers won’t be able to get their snouts in the trough, and that’s a good thing.
Anyway, that’s my close encounter of the 3rd kind with the first Rivian I’ve seen. I like it.
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The Manufacturing plant is nearby where I live, Normal IL. It’s was previously a Mitsubishi factory.
I’ve been waiting to see more about them, we don’t see much around here. Nice detective work!
Thanks, Mark, although it wasn’t really detective work. I was in the right place at the right time…a 100% chance encounter.
I love it when they try to prevent you from taking photos. This guy was wide, but not wide enough. Good job. Too bad our manufacturers are pushing the electric vehicles. No one can tell me how they are going to recycle or safely dispose of the batteries.
They will have to pry the steering wheel out of my hands of my gasoline powered cars to get me to give them up.
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“When they pry my cold, dead fingers, off…”
You gotta love Charlton Heston. They got all the schmucks; we got Moses.
I guess it wasn’t the most boring road after all. Who knows what goes on there?
No dealers = no service network. Something that is desperately needed for high tech vehicles like this.
Hello Joe, Have you seen “The Long Way Up” with Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman”. They rode two Harley Livewire electric bikes up from the south tip of South American to LA and were accompanied by their film crew in two Rivian electric trucks. Well worth watching.
Also wanted to comment on your article on the Triumph TT Special, one of which I purchased new in 1967 and your favorite photo article. I have a photo of a good friend who could pass for the sheiks twin brother. I was too late on both as comments were closed.
I have not seen the latest MacGregor and Boorman adventure.
You must be an old guy like me if you bought a ’67 TT Special new (I’m jealous). If you have a photo of it please send it to us at info@exhaustnotes.us.
Yeah, the comments close after a set period of days for each blog. We get a ton of spam comments and if we left our almost 1000 blogs open we’d be overwhelmed with spam.
Thanks for your comments.