Rivian Automotive
Encyclopedia
Rivian Automotive is an automaker based in Rockledge, Florida
. It plans to begin production of a new design of fuel-efficient cars in 2013.
, a graduate of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
and Massachusetts Institute of Technology
's Sloan Automotive Laboratory. Rivian is based in Rockledge, Florida
, USA, and has around 30 employees, as well as 20 more contract workers, though it has plans to eventually employ as many as 1,200 people.
Rivian was founded as Avera Motors, but in November 2010, Hyundai Motor Company
filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming that the Avera name was too close to that of the Hyundai Azera. As a result, the Rivian name, inspired by the Indian River
, was adopted.In September of 2011, Scaringe was honored by being named Entrepreneur
of the Year at the Florida Governor's 2011 Business Diversification Awards. Later that year, Rivian partnered with local research university Florida Tech to form the Florida Center for Automotive Research, or FCAR
. According to Florida Tech's announcement, the major goal of FCAR is to establish an automotive engineering program to create safer, more fuel-efficient vehicles while bringing new jobs to Florida's Space Coast through Rivian's partnership with Florida Tech.
s. Road testing of a prototype vehicle reportedly began in 2011. The company's first model, according to Scaringe, will cost in the mid-US$20,000 range and have gas mileage of up to 60 miles per gallon. Rivian is also in development of a diesel-electric engine that should achieve an estimated 90 miles per gallon in the city and over 100 miles per gallon on the highway.
In July, 2011, Rivian announced the hiring of Peter Stevens to join the company as director of design to head up the vehicle’s design development. Stevens is best known for heading up the design on the famed McLaren F1
vehicle. In addition to Stevens, Rivian also employs former Mapquest
COO/CFO Jim Thomas.
Rockledge, Florida
Rockledge is the oldest city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 20,170 at the 2000 census. As of 2008, the estimated population according to the U.S. Census Bureau is 24,747. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical...
. It plans to begin production of a new design of fuel-efficient cars in 2013.
Company
The company's founder and CEO is RJ ScaringeRJ Scaringe
Robert Joseph "RJ" Scaringe is an American automotive engineer and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Rivian Automotive in Rockledge, Florida...
, a graduate of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
and Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
's Sloan Automotive Laboratory. Rivian is based in Rockledge, Florida
Rockledge, Florida
Rockledge is the oldest city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 20,170 at the 2000 census. As of 2008, the estimated population according to the U.S. Census Bureau is 24,747. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical...
, USA, and has around 30 employees, as well as 20 more contract workers, though it has plans to eventually employ as many as 1,200 people.
Rivian was founded as Avera Motors, but in November 2010, Hyundai Motor Company
Hyundai Motor Company
Hyundai Motor Company is a Korean multinational automaker based in Seoul, South Korea which, along with Kia, comprises the Hyundai Kia Automotive Group, the world's fourth largest automaker as of 2009. As of 2011, it is the world's fastest growing automaker for two years running...
filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming that the Avera name was too close to that of the Hyundai Azera. As a result, the Rivian name, inspired by the Indian River
Indian River
-In Canada:*Indian River , several rivers*Indian River , a tributary of the Yukon River*Indian River , enters Indian Arm to the north of North Vancouver-In the United States:*Indian River *Indian River...
, was adopted.In September of 2011, Scaringe was honored by being named Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
of the Year at the Florida Governor's 2011 Business Diversification Awards. Later that year, Rivian partnered with local research university Florida Tech to form the Florida Center for Automotive Research, or FCAR
FCAR
Fc fragment of IgA receptor also known as CD89 , is a human gene.-Further reading:-External links:...
. According to Florida Tech's announcement, the major goal of FCAR is to establish an automotive engineering program to create safer, more fuel-efficient vehicles while bringing new jobs to Florida's Space Coast through Rivian's partnership with Florida Tech.
Products
Rivian plans to release its first production car in 2013, with other models following in 2014. The car will be designed to focus on being both fuel efficient and fun to drive. The design will include rear-wheel-drive, mid-mounted gasoline engine and an aluminum frame to save weight. Rivian claims that the design will result in good acceleration and handling, as well as fuel economy better than that of hybrid vehicleHybrid vehicle
A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle. The term most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles , which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors.-Power:...
s. Road testing of a prototype vehicle reportedly began in 2011. The company's first model, according to Scaringe, will cost in the mid-US$20,000 range and have gas mileage of up to 60 miles per gallon. Rivian is also in development of a diesel-electric engine that should achieve an estimated 90 miles per gallon in the city and over 100 miles per gallon on the highway.
In July, 2011, Rivian announced the hiring of Peter Stevens to join the company as director of design to head up the vehicle’s design development. Stevens is best known for heading up the design on the famed McLaren F1
McLaren F1
The McLaren F1 is a supercar designed and manufactured by McLaren Automotive. Originally a concept conceived by Gordon Murray, he convinced Ron Dennis to back the project and engaged Peter Stevens to design the exterior of the car...
vehicle. In addition to Stevens, Rivian also employs former Mapquest
MapQuest
MapQuest is an American free online web mapping service owned by AOL. The company was founded in 1967 as Cartographic Services, a division of R.R. Donnelley & Sons in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1969. When it became an independent company in 1994, it was...
COO/CFO Jim Thomas.