Rivian’s Little Electric Sports Car Prototype Probably Would Have Killed The Company

Rivian, the electric vehicle manufacturer, initially started as Mainstream Motors and later changed its name to Avera before finally settling on Rivian.

The company’s first goal was to create an affordable, fuel-efficient hybrid sports car called the R1, which was touted as having ‘supercar-like handling, aggressive looks, an affordable price tag, and Prius-beating efficiency.’ However, after hiring Peter Stevens, the designer of the iconic McLaren F1, to re-shape the R1, the company decided to start from scratch and change its go-to-market plan.

This decision was likely the right one, as the market for compact hybrid or electric sports coupes has proven to be challenging, with even large manufacturers like Honda struggling to achieve significant sales with similar concepts, such as the CR-Z and Prelude.

Rivian’s decision to focus on electric pickup trucks, like the R1T, has proven to be successful, with the company delivering 42,247 vehicles in 2025.

The company has since expanded its product lineup with the launch of the R2 and has a new production facility underway, as well as the upcoming R3 in development.