Rivian produces first dual-motor R1T as June delivery date rapidly approaches

Rivian recently announced the completion of its first production dual-motor AWD R1T electric pickup truck in its US EV facility. Aside from providing relief to customers who've potentially been waiting months for an order update, this also marks the first production unit of a consumer vehicle with Rivian's in-house Enduro motor.

What makes the Enduro motor special is that it was designed and is being manufactured by Rivian itself, as opposed to the motors for the quad-motor R1T that come from Bosch. An in-house motor design has a few implications for the future of Rivian's electric vehicles.

Not only does an the Enduro motor add one more parts source — giving Rivian more flexibility and control over its supply chain — but it also enables the firm to tweak the design of the motor to improve efficiency and better suit its needs. Most other electric vehicle manufacturers, like Tesla and NIO, make use of a dual-motor set-up for AWD.

Rivian's dual-motor AWD R1T is set to be delivered with brake-controlled torque distribution to compensate for the lack of a wheel on each motor — a system that certainly works but isn't as dependable as a locking differential or quad-motor drivetrain. The dual-motor R1T will come in two guises: a 600-hp, 600 ft.-lbs of torque base model and a Performance version that delivers an extra 100 hp and 100 ft.-lbs of torque. The efficiency gains of the dual-motor drivetrain means that both versions should see around 400 miles of range

The production ramp of Enduro motors for the dual-motor R1T comes hot on the heels of the same ramp for Rivian's commercial van models in February, and Rivian claims that ramping the R1T will strengthen the development of its commercial platform going forward.

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The first customer Dual-Motor R1T rolled off the line this week, helping us continue to ramp Quad-Motor and our commercial van line. Deliveries start in June. https://t.co/E7Q5w5MCZo pic.twitter.com/LmH6b4dD7X

— Rivian (@Rivian) May 25, 2023