Rivian plans to open its first showroom in Chicago’s Gold Coast, marketed as an area for luxury lovers, befitting Rivian’s brand goals.
Rivian will open a showroom at 871 N. Rush St. The EV automaker initially planned to open a showroom in the Fulton Market district a few years ago but backed out of the deal for undisclosed reasons. Its current location in the Gold Coast area might be more fitting.
“The Gold Coast is a luxury lover’s haven. Charming homes on picture-perfect streets, high-end boutiques and restaurants favored by celebrities past and present all give this neighborhood its star power,” said Choose Chicago.
Rivian aspires to provide customers with the best off-roading, outdoor experience in the comfort of modern society through its R1T and R1S EVs. In the past, CEO RJ Scaringe has said R1 EVs would have a “Patagonia-like feel of enabling adventure," referencing a brand well-known for providing durable equipment for outdoor explorers.
While Rivian’s Gold Coast showroom is already impressive, it isn’t finished with Chicago yet. In a statement to CoStar News, the company said it was “still exploring our options” for another space in Chicago. Rivian already has a service center located west of Fulton Market at 2033 W. Walnut St.
Rivian is still ramping up its first two consumer vehicles, the R1T pickup truck and the R1S SUV. Plans are also underway to release the R2 platform, expected to be more affordable. In June, Rivian announced it would adopt Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) for its vehicles.
Abby Andrews