Folks who ordered a Rivian R1T truck or R1S SUV with an Ocean Coast trim may need to wait a bit longer than expected for their EV to arrive. The company told customers in an email that “the light wood in Ocean Coast is more challenging to produce.” As such, Rivian is focusing on getting models with Black Mountain and Forest Edge interiors to customers sooner. It will start deliveries of EVs with the Ocean Coast trim in the fall.

“Building in few build combinations reduces complexity with our suppliers and in the plant and allows us to build a greater number of vehicles,” Rivian wrote in the email, which was obtained by Elektrek. “This updated approach also means we’ll see Adventure Package vehicles rolling off the line alongside Launch Edition vehicles over the next few months.” The company said it will send new delivery estimates to all preorder holders in the coming weeks.

Perhaps to offset the disappointment of another delay, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe showed off a feature that will be available to all customers as standard following a future software update. It’s called Sand Mode and could come in useful for those who want to go off-road. A slow-motion clip shows the R1S handling some sandy terrain.

Also on the way are a pet mode for the HVAC system and dashcam support for the Gear Guard security feature. Scaringe said those are coming soon.

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Electric vehicle maker Rivian is expanding its presence in South San Francisco and will soon use its existing service center in the city to offer sales of its futuristic trucks and SUVs.

The Southern California-based manufacturer currently has a location on Utah Ave. 206 as a service center, and the planning committee last week approved plans to renovate the site as a modern space for service and vehicle delivery for the greater Bay Area.

“It’s really clean, it makes sense of the space, and I’m really excited to have an electric car company based in South San Francisco. I think it’s great, ”said Planning Commissioner Sarah Funes about the proposal.

Unlike traditional automakers, Rivian customers order vehicles online and have them delivered straight to their homes, which means the location acts as a hub for deliveries but does not hold inventory for sales vehicles.

Upon completion, the 44,786 square meter facility, which will retain the footprint of the current building, will accommodate 30 employees. Most of the space is used for service, with some office space and a customer lounge.

Rivian is expected to begin delivering its first vehicle, a $ 69,000 electric pickup truck, to customers this month. The company also produces an SUV and delivery vehicles for Amazon.

In other developments, the owners of the Golden Gate Produce Terminal site directly across the highway are offering the property for a huge new biotech research and development facility and a new building to house the product market.

The 17.6 acre site at Terminal Court 131 and part of an adjacent parking lot will be marketed to investors as a 1.1 million square foot life science development, with the condition that they will fund the construction of a new market for products, the company said San Francisco Business Times.

The site is offered by commercial brokerage firm Kidder Mathews, with initial design work being done by San Francisco-based real estate developer SKS Partners, according to the city. Further details or a price tag have yet to be announced.

Opened in 1962, the fruit and vegetable market is home to 30 fruit and vegetable companies and claims to be the largest and busiest fruit and vegetable market in Northern California.

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