PLYMOUTH, Mich. (Reuters) – Rivian Automotive plans to debut its all-electric pickup truck on the Los Angeles auto present on Monday, and its founder and chief govt exudes optimism about his need to do for the U.S. auto business’s most profitable section what Tesla did for luxurious automobiles. Not everyone seems to be so sanguine. R.J. Scaringe, Rivian’s 35-year-old CEO, mentioned he and his monetary backers consider that demand for electrical pickups is “massively underserved.” Rivian intends to start promoting its R1T, the pickup it’ll debut in Los Angeles, within the fall of 2020. That wouldn’t make Rivian the primary to the U.S. market with an electrical pickup. Cincinnati-based truck maker Workhorse Group Inc is growing an electrical pickup that’s slated for manufacturing in 2019. But whereas Workhorse is aiming to promote its pickup to utilities and municipalities to be used on restricted routes, Rivian mentioned its pickup is aimed toward customers. Rivian’s truck can have a spread of as much as about 400 miles, which might be the longest amongst its three completely different battery packs. Scaringe sees the U.S. pickup market, which accounts for the majority of worldwide income for the Detroit Three automakers, as ripe for change. “What we’re talking about here are cars that don’t drive particularly well, don’t handle particularly well, have fuel economy that’s really quite bad,” he advised reporters at Rivian’s headquarters in Plymouth, Michigan, earlier than the L.A. present. Rivian has not disclosed costs for its truck, however Scaringe mentioned it’ll begin at slightly below $70,000 earlier than federal tax credit for the entry-level mannequin. A stripped-down model with essentially the most highly effective battery pack will promote for lower than $90,000. Current giant, luxurious pickup vehicles can promote at that worth or increased. SOME DOUBTS ABOUT DEMAND Many auto business officers and analysts are skeptical that electrical pickups can promote in giant numbers until battery know-how vastly improves in driving vary and value. The R1T, the all-electric pickup by Rivian, an American electric-car firm, is seen on this picture launched by Rivian in Plymouth, Michigan, U.S., on November 20, 2018. Courtesy Ben Moon/Rivian/Handout by way of REUTERS Buzz about electrical pickups vastly outweighs their near-term significance to the U.S. market, as a result of making a pickup electrical can compromise different key attributes of such autos, similar to load-hauling functionality. Rivian’s truck will supply a payload of 1,760 kilos and a towing capability of 11,000 kilos – attributes extra corresponding to the Detroit Three’s mid-sized vehicles than to best-selling giant vehicles such because the Ford F-150 or GMC Sierra. That will put Rivian’s truck in a tricky place because it lacks the ability and payload of the bigger fashions, however will price greater than the mid-sized vehicles. “A hybrid makes more sense,” mentioned Sam Fiorani, vice chairman of worldwide automobile forecasting at Auto Forecast Solutions. The Detroit Three automakers haven’t jumped into the marketplace for electrical pickups. Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, advised buyers in August that an electrical pickup is “probably my personal favorite for the next product” from the corporate, although he has spoken solely basically a few potential launch, saying that it could occur “right after” Tesla’s Model Y, which the corporate has focused to begin manufacturing in 2020. Ford Motor Co has promised a hybrid F-150 pickup by 2020 and hinted at a totally electrical mannequin some day. General Motors Co’s CEO, Mary Barra, has mentioned the U.S. automaker has given a “tiny bit” of thought to growing all-electric pickups. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV has a hybrid electric-gasoline model of its Ram pickup. Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp mentioned it hopes to make electrical choices on all fashions accessible by 2025. For essentially the most half, the U.S. pickup market leaders are doubling down on petroleum-fueled fashions similar to Fiat Chrysler’s new Jeep Gladiator mid-sized pickup that will probably be formally unveiled in Los Angeles. The Gladiator is aimed toward customers who need a “lifestyle” truck that has car-like facilities within the cab, and may haul leisure “toys” similar to jet-skis, campers or dust bikes. Rivian, which final yr purchased the previous Mitsubishi plant in Normal, Illinois, for $16 million to construct its truck, may also probably face monetary challenges and the necessity to increase more cash because it strikes into manufacturing, if Tesla’s expertise is any information. Tesla has raised billions of in financing — together with secondary share choices and bond gross sales — because it has struggled to ramp up manufacturing. Rivian’s monetary backers embrace Saudi auto distributor Abdul Latif Jameel Co (ALJ), Sumitomo Corp of America and Standard Chartered Bank [STANB.UL]. ALJ has agreed to supply virtually $500 million in funding, Sumitomo invested an undisclosed quantity, and Standard Chartered offered debt financing of $200 million. Like the brand new Jeep Gladiator, Rivian is concentrating on leisure prospects. Autotrader analyst Michelle Krebs mentioned these varieties of prospects are inclined to want the mid-sized vehicles just like the Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Colorado, however they’re much much less model loyal than homeowners of the full-sized vehicles. Slideshow (3 Images)But Scaringe mentioned that Rivian sees a bonus in its truck’s basis, a “skateboard” that packages the automobile drive items, battery pack, suspension system, brakes and cooling system all under wheel peak to permit for extra space for storing and better stability on account of a decrease middle of gravity. The skateboard might be used for different fashions together with an SUV. Scaringe mentioned Rivian’s purpose is to achieve about 50,000 gross sales a yr by 2025. Rivian additionally plans to promote the skateboard to different automakers, he mentioned. And Scaringe mentioned Rivian has one other enterprise technique: Most of its income won’t come from promoting autos, however ultimately promoting experiences like renting autos for a weekend journey. Reporting by Ben Klayman; Additional reporting by Joseph White in Detroit; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.