It’s not certain what prompted the lower prices, though it might just be a matter of economies of scale. Scaringe told Engadget in 2018 that the initial production would focus on “thousands of units” and ramp up. Rivian has racked up “such a long queue” since then, according to Scaringe. If the company is better-prepared for production, it could meet that demand (and thus reach profitability) that much sooner.

There’s a strong incentive for Rivian to pursue aggressive pricing. In addition to offering better competition with conventional trucks and SUVs, lower prices could help Rivian attract buyers who might be lured to Tesla’s Cybertruck, Ford’s Mustang Mach-E and other EVs with similar form factors. While Rivian might have a strong backing, it might still need a strong launch to ensure a bright future.

Naturally, you’ll need to splash out on the pricier versions of both cars, when they’re available to buy, but don’t think you can pull 180s on the highway. After all, tank turns are designed to be done in rough conditions and require a little kick of the wheels to get you going. But it’s still a neat trick that you can show off to your friends while off-roading, whenever either Rivian vehicle winds up on sale.

Scaringe also confirmed the availability of previously-patented auxiliary battery packs. So long as you don’t need all your available cargo space, you could toss in extra batteries if the 400-mile maximum range isn’t enough.

The features add to the list of promises Rivian has made about its vehicles, which start hitting the market with the R1T truck’s arrival in 2020. However, Scaringe stressed that his EVs were still dealing with the practical limitations of current technology, such as battery chemistry (fast charging speeds are still dictated by cell longevity), aerodynamics and charging infrastructures. To him, it was all about wringing “efficiencies” out of the tech that’s already there.

Founder RJ Scaringe said Rivian is working on something related to the Amazon investment, but hinted to Bloomberg that it may not be a vehicle. He’s open to selling his company’s technology (it has developed long-lasting batteries) to other businesses for various products, including stationary batteries. So perhaps Amazon is interested in using Rivian’s know-how for something other than vehicles, though it has also invested in a self-driving car startup.

Scaringe noted in the interview that tens of thousands of people have laid down a $1,000 deposit for Rivian’s EVs, just over half of which are for the R1T. That pickup and the R1S SUV are scheduled to go on sale next year.