Rivian Automotive Inc. has delivered its first vehicles in Canada, but they went to staff in British Columbia, the California electric-vehicle maker’s beachhead in the Canadian market.
An R1T pickup and R1S sport utility vehicle were handed over to two Rivian employees in Vancouver, said Tony Caravano, Rivian’s senior director of customer experience.
“Those have gone to internal employee customers and allows us to continue to put the final test on our processes through the beginning of the ownership experience,” he said in an interview with Automotive News Canada.
Earlier this year, Rivian told Automotive News Canada that first Canadian deliveries of its R1T and R1S were scheduled for this July.
The 13-year-old startup held a weekend open house that drew about 1,500 invited guests, some on the waiting list for their Rivians, others simply curious. It’s the first chance any had to see their planned purchases in person.
“This experience has given them the chance to do that and also meet the team that makes the vehicles because we have local employees here,” Caravano said.