Rivian canceled its cheapest R1T trim in 2022, raising entry prices about $5,500

Rivian builds the R1T electric pickup and R1S electric SUV, plus delivery vans for Amazon.

Rivian launched the R1T with an entry 'Explore' trim at $67,500. In March 2022 it told preorder holders prices would rise up to 20% — $10,000 or $20,000 more for some — then walked the increase back a day later amid an uproar, apologizing. It had also just laid off 6% of employees.

In August 2022 Rivian canceled the Explore package outright and discontinued the cheaper R1S trim, pointing buyers to the $73,000 Adventure. The company said focusing on Adventure would let it streamline its supply chain and 'deliver as many vehicles as possible'; it reported 4,467 Q2 deliveries against a 25,000-vehicle year goal and a $1.71 billion net loss. Rival Ford raised F-150 Lightning prices by $7,000 across trims the same month.

Entry pricing effectively rose by about $5,500 on the R1T and $6,000 on the R1S. Customers could upgrade — with the increase set by original order date — or cancel with a deposit refund. Rivian said only a small percentage of customers had ordered Explore and none had been delivered; one forum member wrote he was 'totally enraged and let down', facing an almost $8,000 jump.

Rivian framed the cut as supply-chain streamlining to maximize output — yet the effect was a $5,500–$6,000 higher entry price.

It was the second price shock of 2022: March's 20% increase was reversed in a day after an uproar; August's trim cancellation stuck.

Only a small share of buyers had ordered Explore and none had been delivered, so Rivian was repricing orders it hadn't built yet.

The financial context was brutal: a $1.71B Q2 net loss, 6% layoffs, and Ford raising Lightning prices $7,000 the same month.

When supply, not demand, is the constraint, the cheap SKU goes first: Rivian couldn't hit volume targets, so it traded its entry price for simplicity — and preorder trust paid the bill.

As of August 18, 2022, preorder holders could upgrade to Adventure at a price set by their original order date or cancel with a full deposit refund. No Explore deliveries had been made. Rivian reiterated its 25,000-vehicle production goal for 2022 while managing customer anger on its owners' forum.