Young electric car manufacturers are forced to expand the model range “from top to bottom” in the price hierarchy, as expensive cars help them make sufficient profits for more affordable versions. This was the path Tesla once followed, and now Rivian is trying to follow its example. Five new models prepared for announcement in the company’s presentation attracted attention.

The relevant document is mostly devoted to the nuances of the announced collaboration with Volkswagen, but a separate slide is devoted to Rivian’s own plans. Robert Scaringe’s (RJ Scaringe) company, again in Tesla style, hides yet-to-be-announced models under virtual covers, but in this case it does not make sense to focus on the contours of the hidden cars. At least representatives of The Verge believe that the top car in the second column from the left is intended for Rivian’s business customers in the person of the same Amazon for which the first generation EDV vans are also intended. In the future, Rivian needs to transfer them to an updated platform that is more efficient in both production and operation. It is already based on the recently introduced redesigned R1S crossover and R1T pickup.

The MSP (mid-size) platform, as you can tell from the slide, will be based not only on the production-ready R2, R3 and R3X crossovers, but also on some other vehicles of unclear purpose. R2 crossovers will be available starting at $45,000, while the R3 family will be even cheaper, so hiding in the right-most column are three models of mass-market Rivian electric vehicles that will be the most affordable in the range. of this manufacturer. Since cars with this type of body are in demand in the North American market and the R1T is among the first two models of the brand to enter the assembly line, it cannot be ruled out that there will be an electric pickup among them. Of course, making presentations for investors is one thing, mass-producing electric cars is another, but the existence of Rivian’s corresponding plans to expand its product range will certainly please many fans of the young brand.