Rivian Vehicles Get Their Certification From Transport Canada After All
Will the launch of the first Rivian electric vehicles in Canada be delayed once more? That's what we thought after the small automaker from California applied for a certification from Transport Canada in late September, but was unexpectedly rejected due to various non-compliance issues.
In a statement sent to Drive Tesla Canada, the government explained that Rivian “has yet to provide satisfactory evidence of compliance to all applicable Canadian motor vehicle safety standards.”
Our safety standards are indeed different from the ones effective in the U.S., where the Illinois-built R1T pickup and R1S SUV have been roaming the streets and beyond for nearly a year now. Obviously, without this certification, Rivian can’t sell its vehicles north of the border.
However, Rivian was quick to address those non-compliance issues and reapply for certification, this time successfully.
The Transport Canada website for the ‘Preclearance List of Recognized Vehicle Importers’ has now been updated to include Rivian. That means the R1T and R1S can both legally be sold and delivered to Canadian customers.
As a reminder, Rivian will start deliveries in markets where it has a service centre. The first one in Canada is scheduled to open this fall in Vancouver. Toronto and Montreal should follow next year.
The company also plans to install over 3,500 fast chargers in more than 600 locations across the U.S. and Canada by the end of 2023. The so-called Rivian Adventure Network will mostly cover areas in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, along with a few in Quebec and Atlantic Canada.
