News
Rivian R1T gross vehicle weight makes it a “heavy duty” truck at 8.5k lbs
The Rivian R1T Owners Manual hints that the all-electric pickup could essentially be considered a heavy-duty truck. Several details in the Rivian R1T Owners Manual hint at this, but the main one would be the all-electric pickup’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 8,532 lbs.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), trucks weighing between 8,501 to 10,000 lbs. are classified as EPA Class 2b. The Rivian R1T could then be considered a three-fourth ton heavy-duty pickup truck based on its GVWR classification. The classification puts the Rivian R1T in the same category as the Ford-250, Chevy 2500, and Ram 2500. For some perspective, Ford calls the Ford-250 its “Super Duty” truck, and it’s made to handle work and loads the F-150 can not.
A comparison between the GVWR of popular pickup trucks and the Rivian R1T is listed below, courtesy of The Fast Lane Truck.
- Rivian R1T: GVWR = 8,532 lbs
- Toyota Tacoma: GVWR = 5,600 lbs
- Ford F-150 Hybrid: GVWR = 7,350 lbs
- Nissan Frontier: GVWR = 6,012 lbs
- Toyota Tundra Hybrid: GVWR = 7,660 lbs
- Nissan Titan XD: GVWR = 8,800 lbs
- Chevy Silverado 2500: GVWR = 10,850 lbs
A truck’s GVWR is the most accurate way of knowing how much a truck can carry. The Rivian Owners Manual does not provide a precise payload capacity for the R1T pickup truck. However, it does hypothetically calculate a capacity of 1,400 lbs.

The Rivian R1T’s GVWR hints at how all-electric pickup trucks could change the way people classify trucks and their capabilities. Despite its GVWR classification matching trucks like the Ford-250, the Rivian R1T will most likely be pitted against Ford’s F-150 Lightning and the Tesla Cybertruck.
The Lightning is marketed as a working truck with the commercial model priced at $39,974. Meanwhile, the Cybertruck has been said to make an excellent commercial pickup, and it starts at $39,900 for the Single Motor RWD variant.
Months before its expected September deliveries for its Launch Edition trucks, Rivian has shown the R1T in different situations with its Stories series. Most Rivian Stories show the R1T as a truck made for adventures in different landscapes and varying weather conditions.
Rarely has the Rivian R1T been depicted as a working truck in Stories. However, the Owners Manual hints that the R1T could be used for work and play.
Rivian’s configuration page states that deliveries for its non-Launch Edition R1T vehicles will begin by January 2022. The Rivian R1T Explore Package starts at $67,500. While the Adventure Package with premium interior and added functionality starts at $73,000.
As September nears an end, Rivian R1T Launch Edition deliveries seem to be within sight. The EV automaker has already released the first iteration of its official Rivian App, which contains a multitude of information and hints about the R1T, including the Owners Manual–which was shared by the Rivian Forums.
Read the Rivian R1T’s Owners Manual below!
Rivian R1T Owners Manual by Maria Merano on Scribd
The Teslarati team would appreciate hearing from you. If you have any tips, reach out to me at maria@teslarati.com or via Twitter @Writer_01001101.
Investor's Corner
Cantor Fitzgerald raises Tesla PT To $510, citing Cybercab, Semi, and AI momentum
The firm cited upcoming production milestones for the Cybercab, Semi, and Optimus as key drivers behind its revised valuation.
Cantor Fitzgerald has boosted its Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) price target from $355 to $510 per share, maintaining an “Overweight” rating over its continued confidence in the company’s long-term growth.
Analyst Andres Sheppard cited upcoming production milestones for the Cybercab, Semi, and Optimus as key drivers behind Cantor Fitzgerald’s revised valuation, as well as expanding opportunities in Tesla’s Energy and Full Self-Driving initiatives.
Major growth from multiple Tesla programs
According to Sheppard, Tesla disclosed that volume production for the Cybercab, Semi, and Megapack 3 is on track for fiscal year 2026, with Optimus production lines also targeted to launch next year. The analyst highlighted these updates as “significant,” noting that Tesla’s diverse roadmap continues to reinforce its position as a vertically integrated energy and AI company.
Cantor Fitzgerald now expects Tesla’s capital expenditures at approximately $9.2 billion for FY2025 and around $12 billion for FY 2026, a substantial increase tied to the company’s efforts to further scale its operations. The analyst noted that these investments align with Tesla’s push into robotics, autonomous driving, and energy storage.
Confidence in AI-driven expansion
Tesla shares closed at $433.72 last Friday, giving Cantor Fitzgerald’s $510 price target an implied upside of roughly 17.6%. The revised forecast reflects the firm’s expectation that Tesla’s long-term value extends far beyond vehicle sales, with strong upside from the company’s FSD, Robotaxi/Cybercab, Semi, and Optimus initiatives, as noted in a StreetInsider report.
“Overall, we remain bullish on TSLA over the medium to long term,” Sheppard wrote. “We continue to see meaningful future upside from Energy Storage & Deployment, FSD, Robotaxis/Cybercab, Semis, and Optimus Bots.”
Tesla highlighted these key initiatives in its Q3 2025 Update Letter. “We continue to evolve and augment our product lineup with a focus on cost, scale and future monetization opportunities via services powered by our AI software. Cybercab, Tesla Semi and Megapack 3 are on schedule for volume production starting in 2026,” the company wrote.
News
Tesla is ramping its hiring for Cybercab vehicle manufacturing roles
A check of the company’s Careers website shows 30 open positions tied to the Cybercab project, with 25 focused directly on vehicle manufacturing.
Tesla is accelerating preparations for its upcoming Cybercab by rapidly expanding its hiring efforts in Austin, Texas.
A check of the company’s Careers website shows 30 open positions tied to the Cybercab project, with 25 focused directly on vehicle manufacturing. The spike in listings suggests that Tesla may be gearing up for a production ramp of its fully autonomous two-seater at Giga Texas.
New Cybercab job listings
Tesla’s Careers page now features several new roles that appear crucial to the Cybercab’s buildout. Among the most recent additions are openings for Engineering Technicians for the Cybercab’s drive units, battery pack, and general assembly, as well as positions for Equipment Technicians for the vehicle’s production lines.
Earlier this month, Tesla only had three openings related to the autonomous two-seater’s manufacturing. Even then, it was already exciting as the Cybercab would be produced using Tesla’s “Unboxed” manufacturing process. This process is designed to make the Cybercab easier and quicker to produce.
Similar to previous Cybercab-related job listings, all of the openings are currently based in Austin, Texas. This suggests that for now, at least, the production of the Cybercab will really be focused on Giga Texas to start.
Ultra-fast Cybercab production targets
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has described the Cybercab as the company’s highest-volume vehicle yet, targeting an annual production rate of around 2 million units. He added that the Cybercab line will operate more like a “high-speed consumer electronics” assembly process than a conventional car factory.
“If you’ve seen the design of the Cybercab line, it doesn’t look like a normal car manufacturing line,” Musk said earlier this year. “It looks like a really high-speed consumer electronics line. In fact, the line will move so fast that actually people can’t even get close to it.”
Elon Musk
Memphis to use xAI taxes for neighborhood improvements: “Truly a blessing”
City officials confirmed that the funds will be reinvested in local neighborhoods near xAI’s Colossus supercomputer.
The City of Memphis has collected all taxes owed by Elon Musk’s xAI before the payment deadline, creating a $3.2 million special revenue fund to support communities affected by the company’s operations.
City officials confirmed that the funds will be reinvested in local neighborhoods near xAI’s Colossus supercomputer.
Directing xAI funds toward community projects
Mayor Paul Young’s administration recently outlined how the funds will be allocated. The initiative was focused on improving infrastructure and quality of life in neighborhoods impacted by xAI’s construction and operations.
Councilwoman Yolanda Cooper-Sutton emphasized that the process will include public input, with surveys already distributed to residents to guide spending priorities, according to ABC24.
“With that ordinance, we are in the near future getting ready to set up the committee because this is the people’s money,” Cooper-Sutton said. “We wanna make sure that it is used for the people.”
Officials noted that they are planning to present a final proposal to the entire council after reviewing community feedback. Cooper-Sutton added that the program represents a step toward ensuring businesses operating in Memphis treat residents “fairly and with equality.”
“It is truly, truly a blessing. What we are doing here at this body and this council, we wanna make sure that whatever business that comes here, that the people are treated fairly and with equality,” she stated.
xAI partnership fuels local job opportunities
Beyond tax revenue, xAI’s growing presence is expected to bolster Memphis’ workforce development goals. Earlier this month, the artificial intelligence startup co-hosted a job fair at Crosstown Concourse with the American Job Center to connect residents with new employment pathways.
“We know that jobs are coming. We know that talent is here,” Melody Freemon, executive director of the Greater Memphis Workforce Development Board, stated. “We wanna make sure we’re not just putting people in any ole jobs. We wanna put people on a pathway to self-sustainability. We wanna put people on a pathway to self-sustainability and something they can rely on in the future.”
Freemon also noted that the Greater Memphis Workforce Development Board was able to make a favorable offer to xAI. “We promised that we can provide a pipeline. This is the central hub for connection. This is where job seekers are, so let us take the headache off of your hiring needs. Come here, let us source the people and make sure that we meet the demand,” Freeman stated.
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