Lucas Bell 
The Tesla Cybertruck announcement made late last year marked a huge moment for the electric car market, as social media exploded with opinions about Silicon Valley’s take on the pickup of the future. It is true that there was a huge amount of excitement behind Elon’s latest fundraising exercise, in no small part thanks to the MSRP that Tesla attached to the Cybertruck at the launch event. Not to be outdone by the Californians, the Michigan-based electric automaker has made a pricing announcement related to their upcoming (and real) Rivian R1T truck and R1S SUV.
Back when the Rivian R1T truck was originally announced, Rivian claimed that they would price the base model at $69,000, complete with around 230 miles of range thanks to a 135-kilowatt-hour pack. That figure became somewhat contentious online when Tesla announced that the their range-topping tri-motor Cybertruck will cost $69,900. Now though, Rivian has announced they will offer at least three different battery packs for their R1T truck and R1S SUV, with a lower price of entry than before.
According to a Reuters report, the well equipped mid-range variant of the Rivian R1T pickup will now be priced at $69,000, the original estimated price for the lower trim model. The mid-range Rivian truck will feature 300 miles of range, as well as Rivian’s exclusive electrochromic glass roof panel. This “glass sky panel” can cycle from clear to tinted blue, if the driver wants a little less of the visual open air experience. A similar spec Rivian R1S SUV should land with an MSRP of $72,000.
Rivian have also announced that the range topping models will include a 180 kWh pack, which should provide 400 miles of range. While pricing is not yet available for the other two packages at this time, more information should come as the end of year delivery date draws nearer.
For those who are interested in ordering a Rivian R1T truck or R1S SUV for yourself, the company is accepting $1,000 deposits to reserve build slots. The company plans to start production with the range topping models, reaching base model production within the first year of release. Unlike that other electric car company, Rivian won’t comment about how many people have placed deposits, though Rivian founder and chief executive R.J. Scaringe told Reuters the reaction to their products has been “really positive.”
This news comes as GMC teased the 1,000 horsepower Hummer electric pickup truck.
