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Rivian

In this section of Torque News we report the latest news and developments about Rivian electric vehicles and trucks. Rivian is an American electric vehicle automaker and automotive technology company founded in 2009. Rivian is building an electric sport utility vehicle and pickup truck on a "skateboard" platform that can support future vehicles or be adopted by other companies.

A family stands next to a Jaguar
California’s New EV Subsidy Program Is Ideal For Wealthiest Buyers
By John Goreham on
California has just implemented a new taxpayer-funded program to help the wealthiest EV shoppers save a few bucks.
Blue Rivian R1T towing an Airstream travel trailer at a GM Energy Flying J charging station.
A Rivian R1T Towed A 19-Foot Airstream 1,000 Miles At 1.3 mi/kWh
By Noah Washington on
The owner of this Rivian R1T pulled a 19-foot Airstream Bambi from central Utah to Yellowstone and back, charged five times, unhooked twice, and found the truck ready before the baby was done eating.
Waymo Jaguar I-Pace robotaxi stopped on a busy city street as a pedestrian passes beside it.
IIHS Says Waymo Data Point to Lower Crash Rates in Limited Deployments, But NAMIC Says Insurers Still Need “Credible Claims Data”
By Noah Washington on
IIHS says Waymo’s crash data is promising but narrow. NAMIC says insurers still need credible loss data on frequency, severity, causation, and repair costs before automated miles can be rated differently from human-driven miles.
This is probably how a Rivian R1S-based Tesla would look like.
If Tesla Built Something Like The Rivian R1S It Would Blow The Model Y Numbers
By Armen Hareyan on
If the Lucid Gravity looked more like a Rivian R1S it might be received better, but if Tesla built something like the R1S it would blow the Model Y numbers.
White Rivian R2 driving on a two-lane road with cloudy hills in the background.
A Rivian R2 Owner Signed First, Then Found Scratches, Panel Gaps, And Broken Gloveboxes
By Noah Washington on
A new R2 delivery should have been a celebration. Instead, one owner found deep exterior scratches, hood misalignment, a driver-side clicking noise, and two glovebox problems within the first 24 hours.
Green Rivian R1S electric SUV shown from a low front angle while driving in an urban setting.
A Rivian R1S Owner Plugged Into A Regular 120V Outlet For 12 Hours And Added 39 Miles
By Noah Washington on
A Rivian driver in High Banks, Michigan, gained 12 percent battery from an ordinary household outlet. The speed was laughable. The result was still useful.
Close-up view of the rear seatback edge in Kate's 2023 Rivian R1S showing peeling upholstery material and surface degradation along a stitched section of the light-colored seat trim.
2023 Rivian R1S Owner Says Warranty Claim Was Ignored By Rivian Before AAA Closed the Arbitration Case
By Aram Krajekian on
A Rivian R1S owner reaches out and shares how her warranty dispute escalated to arbitration, only for the process to stall before any resolution was reached.
White Rivian R1S and Passport travel trailer shown in side profile at an EV charging station.
Rivian R1S Tows From Phoenix to San Diego Without Unhooking at Key Charging Stops
By Noah Washington on
The Rivian R1S used 342.7 kWh at 1.09 mi/kWh while pulling a Passport camper through 106-to-113-degree heat. Three trailer-friendly charging sites kept every stop hitch-free.
Rivian R1T truck bed with interior panels removed during repair, shown with an inset photo of a small gray kitten.
A Rivian R1T Hid A Kitten For Five Days, Then Rivian Staff Helped Save It
By Noah Washington on
A Rivian owner rescued an 8-week-old kitten from inside the rear of his R1T after five days, with a Rivian tech walking him through bed-floor disassembly on a day off. Two years later, Rivy is still the best kind of ownership story.
Rivian's R2 spare tire is shown
Rivian R2 Offers a Spare Tire, But It Will Cost You $775
By John Goreham on
If you are shopping for a new electric utility vehicle, Rivian’s R2 offers something most EV brands and models leave out.
Rivian facility exterior with a large Rivian sign on the building, parked vehicles, and an empty parking lot under a clear blue sky.
A Rivian R1T Owner Found The Appleton Service Center Looking Ready, And Wisconsin Rivian Drivers Are Waiting For The Doors To Open
By Noah Washington on
A nearly finished Rivian service center in Appleton could change ownership for Wisconsin drivers, cutting long service trips and showing whether Rivian’s growing network is ready for the R2 era.
Gray Rivian R2 shown from the rear three-quarter angle on a city street.
A Rivian R2 Test Drive Ended After Five Minutes With A Critical Battery Warning, And The Driver Still Walked Away Sold
By Noah Washington on
A Rivian R2 demo in Pasadena stopped almost immediately with “Critical battery issue. Service vehicle immediately” on the screen. The SUV shut down; a hard reset did nothing, and Rivian had to retrieve the driver.
Silver Rivian R2S parked on a wooded trail in a front three-quarter view.
A Rivian R1S Owner Spent A Day Driving The R2 And Got Back Into His R1S Thinking, “Oh”
By Noah Washington on
A longtime Rivian owner who also runs Snazzy Labs spent a full day in the Rivian R2, then compared it directly with his Gen 1 R1S. His verdict should make Rivian happy, and maybe make some R1S owners nervous.
Unique rendering of an interior of VW ID1 from VW with a Rivian's logo in it as it will use RV Tech software
Rivian Found Four Ways To Reach Millions Of Drivers Through Volkswagen Without Selling Them A Rivian
By Armen Hareyan on
Rivian found four specific ways to reach far more drivers than its own vehicle lineup allows, and Volkswagen's ID.1 may be only the beginning.
Beyond the EX60: Comparing Today’s Extreme Range EV Frontiers
Navigating The Volvo EX60 Launch And Finding Electric SUV Alternatives Delivering Near 400 Miles Of Range
By Rob Enderle on
Volvo’s highly anticipated EX60 is finally hitting the US market, but the 400-mile P12 flagship remains delayed. Discover which models you can order today and explore long-range electric SUV alternatives.
Close-up of a Rivian R1T wheel with Michelin Pilot Sport S5 tire and yellow brake caliper.
A Rivian Owner Swapped To Michelin Pilot Sport S5 Tires And Says The R1S Finally Feels Sharper Than The OEM 22s
By Noah Washington on
A Rivian owner put more than 2,000 miles on Michelin Pilot Sport S5 tires after coming out of a winter 20-inch all-terrain setup. The early verdict is clear.
Rivian R1S
NHTSA is Investigating 115,000 Rivian R1T and R1S Vehicles After Drivers Claim a Defect Caused Them to Lose Control
By Mary Conway on
The drivers say that a rear toe link separated and they lost control of the SUV. One of the complaints involved a vehicle that actually crashed.
Gray Rivian R1T parked on a city street with “don’t buy junk” graffiti painted on the side.
A Rivian R1T Owner Spray-Painted “Don’t Buy Junk” Across His Truck and Parked It Across From Rivian’s Denver Showroom After a 12-Volt Battery Dispute
By Noah Washington on
A furious Rivian owner spray-painted “Don’t Buy Junk” across his R1T and parked it directly across from Rivian’s downtown Denver showroom. His complaint centers on a disputed battery repair bill, but the bigger story is what it says about EV ownership.
Rear view of Mike's Rivian R1S showing minor bumper damage after being struck from behind on the highway.
Rivian R1S Rear-Ended by Audi A4 at Roughly 35 MPH Leaves Owner Impressed With Rivian’s Crash Protection
By Aram Krajekian on
A rear-end collision involving a Rivian R1S is fueling new conversations about distracted driving, EV weight, and why some modern SUVs feel almost tank-like during impacts.
Rivian R2 Launches on June 9th, 2026
One of the Most Important EVs of 2026, the Rivian R2, Launches on June 9th
By Mary Conway on
After months of testing, Rivian announced today that the R2 will be available on June 9th. "Order invitations start going out, demo drives begin and the first R2 vehicles start arriving in driveways across America."
White 2027 Rivian R2 driving on a two-lane road through green hills in a front three-quarter action view.
Rivian's Pet Patent Is Bigger Than Dog Mode, But Owners Should Read the Fine Print
By Noah Washington on
Rivian's new animal-interaction patent describes a vehicle that can read a pet tag, adjust cabin settings, monitor movement, and treat the animal like a real occupant.
White 2027 Rivian R2 parked on a wooded trail in a front three-quarter view.
Rivian R2’s Quiet Edge Over R1T/R1S Is Charging Math
By Noah Washington on
The Rivian R2 may not beat the R1T or R1S on size, power, or presence. But for buyers who charge at home, park daily, and need fewer ownership headaches, it may be the Rivian that makes the most sense.
Rivian R1S towing an Airstream trailer at a desert campsite with mountains in the background.
A Rivian R1S Towed a 4,000-Lb Airstream Through Mountains, and Speed Was the Villain
By Noah Washington on
A Rivian R1S owner towed an Airstream through the Sierra and logged every leg. The surprise was not that the range dropped. It was how useful a 140-mile planning floor became.
White Rivian R2 parked under trees with a rooftop cargo box in a side-profile view.
According To Rivian's AMA The R2's Biggest Feature May Be the Software It Hasn't Received Yet
By Noah Washington on
Rivian's R2 software AMA made the sales pitch clearer: the SUV should improve after delivery. That is exciting, but buyers need to know which features are ready, which are on the roadmap, and which depend on future hardware.
Blue Rivian R1T towing an off-road camper trailer while parked beside EV charging stations.
A Rivian R1T’s 1.10 mi/kWh Flagstaff Climb Explains Why EV Towing Is a Charger Problem Disguised as a Range Problem
By Noah Washington on
A Rivian R1T Dual Performance Max pulled a 4,500-pound trailer to Flagstaff and averaged 1.10 mi/kWh on the climb. Torque News checked the math, and the useful lesson is not about the tow rating.
2026 Rivian R2
The Rivian R2 Configurator Is Live, And One Customer Got A Glimpse In California, Seeing Even More Than Company Let On
By Tim Healey on
The online configurator for the Rivian R2 is live, and one customer went all the way to Palo Alto, California to see even more of the R2, including things the company hasn't yet talked about.
The Modern Refueling Sanctuary
Overcoming the Electric Vehicle Range Myth as Charging Speed Dictates Market Leadership
By Rob Enderle on
Discover why the myth of range anxiety is crumbling as savvy electric vehicle buyers prioritize charging speed, finally aligning performance with the practical realities of the modern driver’s lifestyle.
A green Rivian R1T electric pickup towing a white and black Brinkley travel trailer on a gravel lot.
A Rivian R1T Towed a 30-Foot Camper to Prescott, but the Real Test Was Charging After the Campground Said No
By Noah Washington on
A Rivian R1T owner towed a 30-foot Brinkley camper from near Phoenix to Prescott, where his campground forbade EV charging. A nearby Tesla destination charger and the downhill return changed the whole trip.
Silver Rivian R1T electric pickup driving past blurred greenery in a side profile view.
A Rivian R1T Owner Locked His Phone and Key Card Inside With No Cell Service, Showing the Backcountry Risk of Digital Keys
By Noah Washington on
A Rivian R1T owner says he was locked out in a remote area with his phone and key card inside. His problem went beyond the locked truck. Getting back in depended on connection, identity verification, and outside help.
Silver Rivian R1T parked on a sandy beach near the water.
Rivian R1T Registrations Show Strong Coastal Adoption But Weak Penetration In America’s Core Truck States
By Noah Washington on
Rivian R1T demand is strongest in EV-friendly and outdoor-recreation markets, while America's core truck states still belong to high-volume gas pickups. The gap says everything about who is actually replacing a work truck.
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