Rivian has always aimed to install a winch on the R1. The RAD could finally bring that vision to fruition.

      The latest in car news and reviews, no nonsense.

      Our daily newsletter, free of charge, delivers the most significant stories straight to you every weekday.

      Did you manage to get your Rivian stuck, or did someone off-roading with you get stuck? A winch would certainly come in handy, and Rivian recognizes that need.

      In Park City, Utah, during a one-on-one discussion on The Drivecast with the R2 launch as a backdrop, Rivian's Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe mentioned, “a winch is something we’ve always wanted to include on an R1.”

      You can listen to the full conversation starting from the moment Scaringe talks about a winch on the R1 below.

      Rivian has submitted patents to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a winch on the front of the R1, but so far, nothing has materialized.

      Scaringe elaborated, “A winch is something we've wanted to put on an R1 for a long time. However, it poses some challenges, particularly from a regulatory standpoint – adding a large piece of incompressible metal to the front of the vehicle impacts crash safety and pedestrian protection.”

      Unlike Ford, Rivian sells its vehicles directly to consumers without any dealership middlemen and offers very few third-party accessories, making things somewhat more complicated. “Historically, third parties would handle that. The aftermarket can do these things. Since we create our own accessories and are the OEM, it's a bit more challenging. But we have considered it extensively,” Scaringe shared.

      In February, Rivian launched RAD, which stands for Rivian Adventure Department, marking the establishment of its new in-house performance division. Scaringe stated that while RAD vehicles will be fundamentally different, the department won’t be restricted to just vehicles.

      “Regarding RAD, there’s a lot of exciting possibilities. We intentionally chose the term adventure department rather than just performance. Performance is a part of adventure, but adventure encompasses a broader spectrum, enabling a variety of options, including winches,” Scaringe explained.

      When asked whether RAD will extend beyond vehicles, Scaringe affirmed, “Vehicles plus additional features that make the vehicles more thrilling.”

      For current and prospective Rivian owners, to quote Lloyd Christmas, “so you’re saying there’s a chance.”

      Do you have a tip about upcoming products? Reach out to us at tips@thedrive.com.