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Rivian marked Earth Day by launching an unusual upgrade program that offers up to $5,000 off an R1 when you trade in a gas-powered car.
The Electric Upgrade discounts range from $1,000 for buyers of an R1S SUV with the Large Pack through to $5,000 for an R1T pickup with a Max Pack. The best offer may be for R1T Standard and Standard+ shoppers, who get $3,000 off the more affordable trim levels.
Only certain gas vehicles qualify, however. You’ll need to exchange a 2018 or newer SUV or truck from certain makes. The full list is available below.
- Audi Q5, Q7, Q8
- BMW X3, X5, X7
- Ford Bronco (excluding Bronco Sport), F-150, Explorer, Expedition
- Jeep Grand Cherokee, Gladiator, Wrangler
- Toyota 4Runner, Highlander, Tacoma, Tundra
Drivers will have to receive their leased or purchased R1 no later than June 30th, Rivian said. The offer is limited to one trade-in per year, although you’ll get a year of free charging on Rivian’s Adventure Network.
The R1 offer came as Rivian’s troubles appeared to be settling down. While the EV maker recently conducted its second round of layoffs this year, shedding 1% of its workforce, it also noted that its early 2024 deliveries met expectations despite a tough market for all-electric cars. The company reports its next quarterly earnings on May 7th.
The timing might be ideal. Rivian’s chief rival Tesla is struggling between poor sales and a Cybertruck recall. The R1 discount theoretically casts Rivian as a viable alternative, particularly for customers eager to get rid of combustion cars in favor of EVs.
