Rivian deletes Camp Kitchen and Tunnel Shuttle from Gear Shop
Rivian has deleted the Camp Kitchen, Tunnel Shuttle, and R1T Tent from its online gear shop. All three were previously listed as “not available yet” until earlier today when their entries disappeared.
One of the Rivian R1T’s unique features is its “gear tunnel,” a compartment that fits between the bed and the rear seats of the truck and opens to the outside of the truck. This offers a large, long space for equipment that drivers might not want to keep inside the truck but want to keep in a more secure place than the bed. It’s good for dirty equipment that’s too long to fit in the “frunk,” so perhaps skis, tent poles, or the like.
But Rivian also decided to offer accessories to fit into the space, and one of the most-anticipated accessories was the camp kitchen. The camp kitchen was a custom-engineered solution that allowed the space to be used for a pull-out kitchen, complete with a water tank, space for utensils and other equipment, and two induction cooktops connected to the car’s battery for a fully-contained portable kitchen.
It may have been slated to cost $5,000, but it was cool nonetheless.
The tunnel shuttle was another option to make the gear tunnel more usable. It’s a slide-out deck that makes it easier to load and unload the gear tunnel. It was a little more reasonably priced at $1,500.
However, in October, Rivian stated that it was putting a “temporary pause” on the production of the camp kitchen and tunnel shuttle while it was working to update the design of both accessories.
That temporary pause seems to have become a little less temporary today, as the items are now no longer listed on the store at all. Until a few hours ago, the page looked like this:
But now, the link to the camp kitchen page simply redirects to the overall gear shop page. The same goes for the tunnel shuttle as well.
We reached out to Rivian for comment on the matter, and a Rivian spokesperson gave us this statement:
As we continue the work of delivering vehicles to our customers as quickly as possible, we’ve made the decision to halt production of the current versions of the built-in Camp Kitchen and Gear Tunnel Shuttle. We’re exploring updated designs and will offer adventure-ready cooking solutions for our vehicles in the future.
So it looks like these items may eventually return, but that may take some time. If so, it sounds like Rivian is saying that the design will change – but we’re not sure how yet.
In addition to these changes, the R1S Tent is still listed on the shop as “coming soon,” but the R1T Tent is missing – though this is less new, as its entry disappeared from the site in January. In October, Rivian stated that the R1T Tent would require an additional brake light accessory to ensure that the truck’s brake lights would still be visible when the tent is attached to the bed. With the R1S, the tent does not obscure the brake lights and thus does not have this problem.
Electrek’s Take
This is disappointing but a little understandable. Rivian is currently working on scaling up production, and it’s going a little slower than the company would like. Given its need to scale up production, reduce complexity, and increase margins, it makes some sense that it would kick a few side projects down the road.
The company just barely missed its 25,000-unit production goal for last year and announced a goal of 50,000 vehicles for this year, which was below Wall Street expectations of 60,000. But there are signs that Rivian has a higher internal target, and the company is moving engineers to its main plant to help work on getting production up to speed.
We received some signs today that the changes might be going well, with new data showing that Q1 is going better than expected. So in light of these challenges, perhaps the camp kitchen was a necessary casualty.
It’s always possible that some other company might come in and offer a similar solution – perhaps one with less whiz-bang fancy engineering. We’ve seen several third-party accessories show up for other EV brands, so hopefully, an enterprising Rivian owner can step in and fill the gap. Or perhaps owners will come up with their own DIY solutions in the meantime.
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Environment
BYD’s best-selling EV arrives in Europe as the Dolphin Surf with prices starting at $26,000
BYD’s electric hot hatch has officially arrived in Europe. The BYD Dolphin Surf is the European version of its best-selling (and most affordable) EV, the Seagull. Despite its small size, the Dolphin Surf has “huge potential” with prices starting at just 23,000 euros ($26,000).
Meet the BYD Dolphin EV for Europe
With over 55,000 units sold last month alone, the Seagull was BYD’s top-selling EV in April. Last year, it was second, trailing only Tesla’s Model Y as the best-selling electric vehicle in China. Now, you can buy it in Europe.
BYD launched the Dolphin Surf on Wednesday, a longer version of the Seagull with a few upgrades. Although not quite as cheap as the Seagull, which starts at under $10,000 (69,800 yuan) in China, the electric hatch is still one of the most affordable in Europe.
The Dolphin Surf is available in three different versions in Europe, with prices starting at 22,990 euros ($26,000) for the standard range model with a WLTP driving range of 220 km (137 miles).
Until June, BYD is offering a discounted price of just 19,990 euros ($22,700). The longer-range Dolphin Surf starts at 24,990 euros and has a 507 km (315 mile) range.
BYD said the compact electric city car is “built for the big city” with a sporty new design and the automaker’s advanced in-car technology.
Built for the big city
The interior is similar to other BYD vehicles, with a 10.1″ rotating touchscreen (with Apple CarPlay and Android connectivity) at the center. It’s also equipped with “Hi BYD,” a new voice control feature.
Although it may be compact, the Dolphin Surf has over 20 “clever storage areas” and a boot capacity of up to 316 L. With the rear seats folded, the electric hatch offers up to 1,037 L of space.
Like its other new vehicles, the Dolphin Surf is equipped with BYD’s Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) as standard, which includes features like intelligent cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure assist.
BYD will introduce the four-seater variant in June. With prices expected to start at around 25,000 euros ($28,300), it’s expected to compete with the Renault R5 and Volkswagen’s upcoming ID.2 electric car.
BYD’s region director, Maria Grazia, said during the launch event in Berlin (via Reuters) that “The compact segment is the next frontier for electrification in Europe,” adding “We think this market has huge potential.”
Electrek’s Take
BYD is leading EV sales in China, and it’s not even close. The automaker is coming off its best sales week of the year with nearly 68,000 vehicles registered from May 5 to May 11, up 15% from the previous week.
To give you some perspective, Tesla delivered just 3,070 vehicles in China in the same week, down 69% from the same week in 2024.
Will the Dolphin Surf see the same demand in Europe? With competitive prices, range, and features, it could be BYD’s most important EV so far. It’s the brand’s 10th vehicle to launch in Europe, following the Sealion 07, a smart midsize electric SUV.
According to S&P Global Mobility, BYD’s sales could double in Europe this year to around 186,000. By 2029, that number could reach around 400,000. Although it’s not slated for European production, the report notes that the Dolphin Surf’s “pricing strategy ensures competitiveness in the EU even with tariffs.”
Will the BYD Dolphin Surf become a top-selling EV in Europe? Leave us a comment below and let us know your thoughts.
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The original Fiat Panda 4×4 was an 80s icon and early entry into the compact SUV movement. Today, the funky electric Panda Grande is still carrying that torch, but it’s clear that someone at Fiat wants to lean into the off-road segment just a bit harder – and that’s what this new Grande Panda 4×4 Manifesto is all about.
First shown during the Grande Panda Hybrid media drive, Fiat is calling the new 4×4 Grande Panda Manifesto concept “the direct heir of the Panda 4×4,” and hopes it can act as a reminder of the 1983 original’s efficient, off-road legacy.
The Grande Panda that debuted last year is available with either a 108 hp 1.2 liter gas engine or a 111 hp electric motor powering the front wheels. The 4×4 concept starts with that electric motor up front, but adds an “innovative” e-axle at the rear of the tiny grande crossover, fully delivering on the “4×4” promise of a powered rear axle despite the lack of a conventional/traditional driveshaft or transfer case.
For their part, Fiat’s people seem pretty proud of the new setup:
From a technical standpoint, the Grande Panda 4×4 concept is thought with an electrified innovative rear axle. This feature would enable the vehicle to deliver impressive performance in urban settings and on more demanding terrain. It’s a deliberate choice that underscores FIAT’s ongoing commitment to embracing increasingly sustainable and forward-looking technologies, all while preserving the adventurous spirit and everyday practicality that have always defined the Panda 4×4.
A lifted stance, more aggressive A/T tires, front-mounted accessory lights, steelie wheels, and the seemingly mandatory “overlander” roof rack make up the rest of the modifications. No word yet on the Manifesto’s performance or specs, but I imagine something not too far removed from the new Jeep Compass’ specs makes sense.
And I promise: Fiat really, really wants to build this thing. Watch this space for more announcements, specs, and (eventually) pricing information.
Electrek’s Take
As my aunt Mary would say, Stellantis needs to get down from that cloud and realize that Jeep is not, should, and will not ever be the high-end luxury brand it hopes it will be. Once it does, it can slap a seven-slot grille on this Grande Panda 4×4 Manifesto concept, throw in some removable doors and a folding canvas moonroof, re-brand it as a modern Willys for about $30K, and watch the money roll in.
Fight me.
Make it a cheap Jeep
SOURCE | IMAGES: Stallantis.
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