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Video: WGLT Takes A Rivian R1T For A Test Drive

WGLT | By Ryan Denham,
Emily Bollinger
Published September 28, 2021 at 8:00 AM CDT
Rivian trucks on a test track
1 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
A Rivian R1T electric pickup descends the rock crawl during the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
2 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
The 16-inch infotainment display on the dashboard of the R1T.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
3 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
4 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
5 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
A patio outside the customer delivery center, on the east side of the plant, where Rivian customers will pick up their electric vehicles. It's adjacent to the Rivian test track.
6 of 48  — Rivian Customer Delivery Center
A patio outside the customer delivery center, on the east side of the plant, where Rivian customers will pick up their electric vehicles. It's adjacent to the Rivian test track.
Ryan Denham / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
7 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
8 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
9 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
10 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
11 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
12 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Rivian's charging stations were on display at the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
13 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
14 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
15 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
A Rivian R1T electric pickup descends the rock crawl during the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
16 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
17 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
A Rivian R1T electric pickup descends the rock crawl during the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
18 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
19 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
20 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
21 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
An electric R1T pickup on display at Rivian's First Mile event. The R1Ts entered production in Normal earlier this month.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
22 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
23 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
24 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
25 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
26 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
27 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
28 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
29 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
30 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
31 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
32 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
33 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
34 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
35 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
36 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
37 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
38 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
39 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
40 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
41 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
42 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
43 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
44 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
WGLT's Ryan Denham test-drives an R1T during the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
45 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
46 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
WGLT's Ryan Denham test-drives an R1T during the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
47 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Rivian trucks on a test track
48 of 48  — Rivian First Mile Event
Highlights from the Rivian "First Mile" event at the plant's test track on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Normal.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
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This week, Rivian customers from all over the Midwest are coming to Normal to take their first drive in the company's electric pickup.

WGLT also got an invite to Rivian’s “First Mile” event, held Sunday on the 1.5-mile test track behind Rivian’s plant in Normal. The track itself is very on brand for this adventure and outdoors-focused company. There is a steep rock hill, a dry creek bed, and some straightaways so you can practice going very, very fast. Just a few steps away from the test track is Rivian’s delivery center, where customers will be picking up their trucks and SUVs.

Watch the video below, or check out the photo gallery above, to see the experience.

McLean County residents who are interested in seeing Rivian's vehicles can sign up for a visit Thursday through Sunday. There will not be test drives or plant tours available, but everyone will get to chat with Rivian employees at the test track and see the R1T.
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Local News RivianPhoto Gallery
Ryan Denham
Ryan Denham is the digital content director for WGLT.
See stories by Ryan Denham
Emily Bollinger
Emily Bollinger is a graduate assistant at WGLT, focused on photography, videography and other digital content. They're also a graduate student at Illinois State University's School of Communication.
See stories by Emily Bollinger