Rivian R1T: Barely Manufactured, Already Crashed
Just under 1,000 have been produced and delivered to customers so far, and already the first one is a total loss. One of the R1T pickups, produced by Irvine, California-based electric car company Rivian, collided with a tree while exiting Highway I-405. The accident was violent enough that the vehicle caught fire and is considered a total loss. Exactly what started to burn, electrical or battery, is not yet known. However, since the fire was quickly extinguished by firefighters, it does not appear to have been the battery itself.
Local television station County News TV reported the following:
When authorities arrived on scene they located a grey Rivian R1T that had collided with a traffic pole causing the vehicle to catch fire.
At least one caller reported the vehicle was exiting the freeway at high speeds when it lost control and collided with the pole, according to a California Highway Patrol incident log.
Firefighters quickly doused the flames before they could spread but the vehicle appeared to be a total loss.
The driver of the vehicle, a male adult, declined medical treatment at the scene and appeared to be cooperating with law enforcement.
Here is also another video from the TV station:
This article was also published in German.
