Rivian, the American electric vehicle maker, has informed customers waiting for the Max Pack configuration of their R1T pickup truck that they will have to wait even longer for their orders to be fulfilled. The latest delay has been attributed to necessary changes to the online configurator used to place orders.
In a letter posted on RivianForums.com, Tony Caravano, the company's head of engineering, apologized for the delay and promised an update in April, saying, "We are working hard to get your R1T to you as soon as possible." The update had previously been expected in late February, but necessary changes to the configurator forced a delay.
Rivian urged affected customers to consider purchasing one of the readily available models on the website. The Max Pack, which is the highest-spec battery configuration, is proving popular with customers due to its long range and quick charging times.
Some reservation holders on the online forum have voiced their disappointment at the news, with one user accusing Rivian of bait and switch tactics and calling for an investigation into the matter. Another expressed concern that Tesla's also-delayed Cybertruck could see deliveries before the R1T Max Pack.
The latest delay adds to a string of setbacks that have affected Rivian. The automaker has been forced to push back the delivery date for the R1T and its electric SUV, the R1S, due to production issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite the setbacks, Rivian has been making progress. The company raised $2.5 billion in a funding round led by Amazon and announced plans to build a second factory in the United States. The R1T and R1S are expected to enter production this year, and the first deliveries are scheduled to take place in June.
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