Ford-Rivian Linkage To Result In New Electric Lincoln SUV Based On Rivian Platform

At a time when it takes considerable investment in electric technology to get a brand-new electric vehicle off the ground, Rivian finds itself in an excellent position. Starting with a $500 million investment by Ford, as well as more than $1 billion from Amazon and a major-vehicle order, and another $1.3 billion from a group of investors led by T. Rowe Price, the electric vehicle maker now finds itself with nearly $3 billion in the bank. More critical for its success, Rivian has commitments for 100,000 delivery trucks for Amazon, as well as commitments from Ford and its luxury Lincoln Division for the development of an all-new fully electric vehicle, based on Rivian’s skateboard platform.

Ford-Rivian Linkage Starts To Show Results

The commitments from Ford were part of the automaker’s original investment of $500 million in the new electric vehicle maker. The pledges were also a signal from Ford that it considered Rivian a serious, though new, manufacturer. Indeed, Rivian’s early rounds of startup seed money enabled the automaker to show its intentions by building a proto fleet of several of its handsome electric R1T pickups and R1S SUVs. Rivian unveiled the electric truck at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. My Torque News colleage John Gorham looks at Rivian funding and its future in an interesting story.

The new Lincoln EV will join the Aviator, and Corsair Grand Touring plug-in hybrid vehicles as the automaker solidifies its commitment to electrification. The zero-emissions SUV will feature connected and intuitive technologies designed to create an effortless experience for Lincoln customers.

Ford-Rivian Linkage At ‘Pivotal Point’

“Working with Rivian marks a pivotal point for Lincoln as we move toward a future that includes fully electric vehicles,” Joy Falotico, president of Lincoln, said. “The vehicle will take Quiet Flight to a new place – zero emissions, effortless performance, and connected and intuitive technology. It’s going to be stunning.”

Plans call for Lincoln to use Rivian’s skateboard platform as it develops the new SUV. It is part of Ford’s planned equity investment in Rivian. The new vehicle is also part of Ford’s already announced $11.5 billion investment in electrification. Electrification plans have already seen the announcement of the Mustang Mach-E, plus a fully electric version of the automaker’s best-selling Ford F-150 pickup.

Rivian Chief Exec R.J. Scaringe said at the announcement this week that the “vehicle development partnership with Ford is an exciting opportunity to pair our technology with Lincoln’s vision for innovation and refinement. We are proud to collaborate on Lincoln’s first fully electric vehicle.”

Linoln Has Had Three Busy Years

The last three years have been remarkably busy for Lincoln. During that time, the luxury automaker introduced four new SUVs that include the Nautilus, Corsair, the Aviator, and the Navigator. The new electric SUV is the fifth new SUV planned for Lincoln’s lineup of vehicles.

Indeed with the introduction of the new electric SUV, Lincoln is mostly out of the car business as it ceases production of the MKZ sedan. Ford built the MKZ its Hermosillo Assembly Plant in Mexico. With the ending of the MKZ, Ford plans to use the plant to make new SUVs. Lincoln’s remaining four-door sedan is the luxury Continental.

Over the last three years, Lincoln has seen its global SUV business grow to seven percent year-over-year. The new SUVs have also helped Lincoln to its best U.S. SUV sales in 16 years.

Marc Stern has been an auto writer since 1971. It was a position that filled two boyhood dreams: One was that I would write, and two that I write about cars. When I took over as my newspaper’s auto editor, I began a 32-year career as an automotive columnist. There isn’t much on four wheels that I haven’t driven or reviewed. My work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, Special Interest Autos, and others. Today, I am the Ford F150 reporter for Torque News. I write how-to and help columns for online sites such as Fixya.com and others. You can follow me on Twitter or Facebook. Most of Marc's stories can be found at Torque News Ford coverage. Check back again and search for Torque News Ford F-150 news for more F-150 truck news coverage.