Photo: Rivian, usual_suspect_redux via Reddit, ColoradoAdventure via Rivian Forums
Rivian R1T may have been the first electric pickup truck on the market, but also suffered from teething problems. The much-hyped powered tonneau cover was one of them, with many owners reporting that it jammed or broke. After more than a year, Rivian is again offering a powered tonneau cover for the R1T pickup truck.
Minor details can indeed ruin great things. In the case of the Rivian R1T, the first electric pickup sold in the US, it was the powered tonneau cover. Arguably one of R1T's most appreciated features, the cover was poorly designed. Many Rivian owners reported that the cover would jam or break apart quite early into the ownership. However, this was not the worst thing. It was how Rivian handled the whole situation.
It took Rivian a long time before acknowledging the issue and even longer to come up with a fix. In the meantime, it removed the option of a powered tonneau cover and only offered a manual option or no cover at all. People ordering a Rivian R1T pickup had to choose between having a manual cover with no ETA or an open bed because a retrofit would not have been possible on a non-cover truck.
To make matters worse, the promised manual cover was also very late, and when the first units shipped to customers, they proved just as flimsy. Many owners reported that the manual covers had already arrived with broken plastic parts from the shipping. This, of course, didn't help Rivian's cause, which had to redesign the cover again. Those who opted for a no-cover truck were happy, though, as they could install a third-party cover, cheaper and better than the OEM part.
Toward the end of last year, Rivian announced that R1T owners with broken powered tonneau covers would get a replacement soon. The first covers were installed in December, and Rivian promised that the new part could also be retrofitted to trucks that shipped without one. The redesigned cover still has a single motor but comes with an updated spring system to prevent panels from getting out of alignment. It also has reinforced panels and gearing, as well as a cleaning system to prevent dirt from getting inside.
Although existing R1T owners were happy, Rivian continued to sell the R1T without the option of a powered tonneau cover. This is now changing as the EV startup announced the availability of new R1T truck configurations, including the new powered tonneau cover. Depending on the region, these pickups can be delivered immediately, with an estimated 1-4 weeks. However, whether these trucks ship with the powered tonneau cover installed or will be retrofitted later is unclear.
Even better, the new part is only $500, making it much cheaper than the manual cover, which sold for $1,800. Although the latter is still listed at this price in the Rivian Vehicle Studio, the powered tonneau cover is currently unavailable. This is likely because the Rivian inventory is already filled with ready-to-eat R1T configurations. The EV startup is trying to sell as many as possible, as the interest in the electric pickup truck is dropping.
It took Rivian a long time before acknowledging the issue and even longer to come up with a fix. In the meantime, it removed the option of a powered tonneau cover and only offered a manual option or no cover at all. People ordering a Rivian R1T pickup had to choose between having a manual cover with no ETA or an open bed because a retrofit would not have been possible on a non-cover truck.
To make matters worse, the promised manual cover was also very late, and when the first units shipped to customers, they proved just as flimsy. Many owners reported that the manual covers had already arrived with broken plastic parts from the shipping. This, of course, didn't help Rivian's cause, which had to redesign the cover again. Those who opted for a no-cover truck were happy, though, as they could install a third-party cover, cheaper and better than the OEM part.
Toward the end of last year, Rivian announced that R1T owners with broken powered tonneau covers would get a replacement soon. The first covers were installed in December, and Rivian promised that the new part could also be retrofitted to trucks that shipped without one. The redesigned cover still has a single motor but comes with an updated spring system to prevent panels from getting out of alignment. It also has reinforced panels and gearing, as well as a cleaning system to prevent dirt from getting inside.
Although existing R1T owners were happy, Rivian continued to sell the R1T without the option of a powered tonneau cover. This is now changing as the EV startup announced the availability of new R1T truck configurations, including the new powered tonneau cover. Depending on the region, these pickups can be delivered immediately, with an estimated 1-4 weeks. However, whether these trucks ship with the powered tonneau cover installed or will be retrofitted later is unclear.
Even better, the new part is only $500, making it much cheaper than the manual cover, which sold for $1,800. Although the latter is still listed at this price in the Rivian Vehicle Studio, the powered tonneau cover is currently unavailable. This is likely because the Rivian inventory is already filled with ready-to-eat R1T configurations. The EV startup is trying to sell as many as possible, as the interest in the electric pickup truck is dropping.
Our powered tonneau cover is now available on select R1T configurations and priced at $500. Shop our available configurations that typically deliver in just 1–4 weeks. pic.twitter.com/cjcE1fqq5p
— Rivian (@Rivian) March 16, 2024
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