Another close-up look at the Rivian R1T plus test drive footage

Electrek.co by Scooter Doll

[{"selector":"#anim-2386da2f-b670-4270-9e36-13bd17ca79cb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] As Rivian’s flagship EV continues to be delivered to its first customers around the US, Electrek got another opportunity to experience the R1T close up and tinker with all of its unique features.

[{"selector":"#anim-0339d459-e30f-499c-9164-4a46f3c0fb3d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Additionally, I got a chance to test drive the Rivian R1T for the first time on both an airport tarmac and some rocky SoCal terrain.

[{"selector":"#anim-95394483-3f42-43f8-ad3a-6faaaa094fac","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Rivian and its R1T pickup has been EV news we have covered significantly the past few years as the US automaker grew closer and closer to first deliveries.

[{"selector":"#anim-1c5bad04-efb5-46bd-8817-952efcbbd649","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] That feat was accomplished this past fall, solidifying Rivian as the first automaker to bring a full-electric truck to market.

[{"selector":"#anim-baa6930f-4157-4480-a28d-43d6244318bc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Since then, more reservation holders have begun to receive delivery dates beginning in 2022. Simultaneously, Rivian has been setting up retail/social spaces called Hubs beginning in Venice, California.

[{"selector":"#anim-3e91650e-18df-44e7-b45a-c537293fe46e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Hubs, alongside Rivian “First Mile” test drive events like the one I recently attended in Southern California, are a main focus of the automaker as it looks to share the R1T experience with consumers.

[{"selector":"#anim-8c19c793-f53d-4a74-b4ab-6ccf5eeda5e1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Earlier this year, Electrek‘s own Seth Weintraub got to be one of the first to test drive the Rivian R1T in Breckinridge, Colorado, alongside CEO RJ Scaringe, and had nothing but great things to say about it , so I was excited to try it out for myself firsthand.

[{"selector":"#anim-1fd9bccb-d9c1-4983-9ccf-487cd2e6bcc1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Read more about my test-drive of the new Rivian R1T electric truck and watch my hands-on video at Electrek.co.