In a recently published YouTube video, “Teardown Titan” Sandy Munro visits electric vehicle (EV) startup Rivian’s production facility in Normal, Illinois, to meet with company CEO RJ Scaringe and talk about the R1T and R1S, as well as what the future holds for the up-and-comer.
Scaringe told Munro about how Rivian started and the ideology behind the company before the two moved on to a hands-on with the all-electric R1T pickup truck. The Rivian CEO explained some of the design choices the company made with the R1T as Munro hopped inside to examine the electric truck for himself and share his own thoughts.
The R1T is Rivian’s first production model. The first units rolled off the assembly line in September of last year, with customer deliveries starting the month after.
Rivian’s R1T launched to an impressively warm reception, with automotive publication MotorTrend naming it 2021’s ‘Truck of the Year’.
Scaringe also teased what he could of future vehicles we can expect to see from Rivian. The company is currently planning on investing $5 billion USD in a second manufacturing facility in the U.S. to scale production.
The pair went on to walk and talk us through the R1T and some of its most significant features and functionality. Munro also took the R1T for a spin with Scaringe, giving us his impressions on how the truck drives and feels on the road. “I like it,” said the automotive expert, impressed.
Scaringe admitted he wasn’t well-versed in hands-on demos on camera to Munro. One would be expectedly nervous especially with someone like Munro picking apart details of the R1T electric truck.
Munro also told Scaringe his company had ordered an R1T, and will likely tear down the truck. Overall, Munro said Rivian did not skimp on quality and parts for the truck.
