Rivian was supposed to start out deliveries of its Launch Edition electrical pickup truck , however that gained’t be the case. The automaker has delayed the preliminary shipments to September.

Customers may even have to attend longer to get their arms on the R1S electrical SUV, as the primary deliveries will not happen till the autumn. Rivian mentioned in June that deliveries of each automobiles would begin in July, a month later than beforehand deliberate. first reported on the newest delays.

In a letter to clients that Rivian shared with Engadget, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe pointed to the long-tail impression of the COVID-19 pandemic as a significant explanation for the setbacks. “Everything from facility construction, to equipment installation, to vehicle component supply (especially semiconductors) has been impacted by the pandemic,” Scaringe wrote. “Beyond these unforeseen challenges, launching three new vehicles while setting up a multi-vehicle manufacturing plant is a complex orchestra of coordinated and interlinked activities where small issues can translate into ramp delays.”

Scaringe mentioned that Rivian, which now employs greater than 7,000 individuals, has constructed “hundreds of vehicles as part of our validation process, with many of those spotted out in the wild covered in unique vinyl wraps.” He famous that the corporate hasn’t but delivered these since Rivian believes “it is critical to both our long-term success and your ultimate satisfaction that the quality and robustness of our launch products truly sets the tone for what to expect from us as a brand.”

As lengthy as Rivian can persist with its newest timeline, it could nonetheless be the primary automaker to carry an electrical pickup truck to market. possible will not go into manufacturing till later this yr, whereas Ford () is eyeing subsequent spring for shipments of .

Along with the R1T and R1S, Rivian is constructing industrial vans on a separate manufacturing line at its manufacturing unit in Normal, Illinois. Amazon has ordered and has .