Imagine a vehicle with the go-anywhere attitude of a Land Rover and the software-first approach of a Tesla. That is roughly the pitch behind Rivian, the American electric vehicle maker that has become one of the most talked-about new names in the industry.
Who is Rivian?
Rivian was founded in the United States by engineer RJ Scaringe. Rather than starting with a small city car, it went straight for the adventure segment with two large electric models: the R1T pickup truck and the R1S SUV. It also builds electric delivery vans for commercial fleets, with Amazon as a major customer.
Why the Land Rover and Tesla comparison?
- Built for the outdoors. Rivian designs its vehicles for off-road driving, towing and camping, territory long associated with Land Rover.
- Software at the centre. Like Tesla, Rivian sells cars that receive over-the-air software updates, so features can improve after you buy.
- A direct relationship with buyers. Rivian sells directly to customers instead of through a traditional dealer network.
What it means for drivers in Singapore
At the time of writing, Rivian sells its vehicles in North America and has no official presence in Singapore. Its current models are large and built in left-hand-drive form, and any car registered here has to meet the Land Transport Authority’s requirements. For now, Rivian is a brand to watch rather than one you can easily buy.
What Rivian does show is where the industry is heading: more electric models, more software and more choice. If you are thinking about switching to an electric car, check the latest rules, charging options and incentives on onemotoring.lta.gov.sg before you decide.
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