Rivian partnership won't lead to electric Ford F-150: reports

Ford and Rivian Partnership Won't Make New EV Truck: Reports

Ford raised eyebrows when it invested about $500 million in EV start-up Rivian, not least because the latter's flagship product, the all-electric R1T, will soon compete with Ford's super-popular F-150 pickup truck. The investment has led most to speculate that the brands will join forces to build a new electric truck, using Rivian's "skateboard" architecture and Ford's manufacturing know-how to produce a Ford-badged vehicle.

We also know that Ford is working on an all-electric version of its F-150 as part of a $11.5 billion plan to produce 40 electrified vehicles (16 of which will be pure electric vehicles) by 2022. into this plan.

But according to Ford, the partnership won't actually lead to a new truck, be it the electric F-150 or whatever. Instead, expect the Blue Oval to build on Rivian's expertise in building what will likely be an electric SUV.

"You shouldn't go down the road assuming it's a pickup truck," Ford president and CEO Jim Hackett told the American publication. MotorTrend.

“At the senior levels (the product is) pretty close (in development). I think a lot of that has already been settled, but I'm not ready to talk about it."

Part of Rivian's two-model range, along with the R1T truck, is the R1S SUV: a massive three-row, seven-seat electric SUV. Rivian says its SUV, equipped with a four-motor system that delivers 147kW per wheel and 14,000Nm of total torque, can hit 160km/h in just 7.0 seconds and 100km/h in just 3.0 seconds. 

The specs are impressive, and they certainly got Ford's attention, as the auto giant called Rivian "special" and confirmed that it will borrow the EV startup's architecture for future models.

“Rivian is a really special thing that teaches us how to integrate not only the drivetrain, but also the architecture that the engine control units and other elements connect to,” says Hackett.

While Ford has yet to confirm details of its new product, we do know that Rivian will launch in Australia, with a local debut expected some 18 months after the brand's US launch, which is currently scheduled for 2020.

“Yes, we will have a launch in Australia. And I can't wait to get back to Australia and show it to all these wonderful people,” says Rivian Chief Engineer Brian Geis.