---
title: "Lincoln Electric SUV Could Be First to Ride on Rivian Platform Under Ford Partnership"
description: "The luxury marque reportedly has at least three electric models arriving within the next four years."
date: "2019-12-02"
modified: "2019-12-02"
authors:
  - name: "James Gilboy"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/31273/lincoln-electric-suv-could-be-first-to-ride-on-rivian-platform-under-ford-partnership"
categories:
  - "Ford News"
  - "Lincoln News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Rivian News"
tags:
  - "Electric Vehicle"
  - "Lincoln"
---

# Lincoln Electric SUV Could Be First to Ride on Rivian Platform Under Ford Partnership

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2019/12/2020-aviator-grandtouring-37.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

When Ford announced in April that it'd pour $500 million into electric vehicle startup Rivian, the happy couple also proclaimed they'd [collaborate on the development of a battery-powered pickup truck and SUV](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/27625/ford-and-rivian-strike-500-million-partnership-to-build-all-new-pickup-truck-suv>). We may now have some idea of what has been incubating these past several months, with rumors of a Rivian-based electric Lincoln surfacing just prior to Thanksgiving.

Citing an employee of a Ford supplier, [*Reuters*](<https://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-lincoln-electric/lincoln-electric-suv-to-use-ford-backed-startups-skateboard-chassis-sources-idUSKBN1Y02E0?utm_source=reddit.com>) reports that this model will be an electric SUV based on Rivian's "skateboard" platform, which tucks its batteries into the floor so as not to impact cabin space. This model will reportedly arrive in mid-2022, following the introduction of [Lincoln's first electric model](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/26019/lincoln-could-roll-out-mustang-inspired-electric-crossover-as-early-as-2020>) next year, which will be a compact crossover based on the Ford Mustang Mach-E.

![message-editor%2F1575312057931-2018\_11\_r1s\_2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1575312057931-2018_11_r1s_2.jpg>)
*2018 Rivian R1S Concept, *Rivian**

Lincoln will reportedly round out its family of electric offerings in 2023 with a midsize model. It isn't yet clear whether these models will coexist alongside current internal combustion Lincolns, none of which are much older than two years at present, though some models may be due for replacement when their electric counterparts arrive.

A Lincoln spokesperson declined to issue a statement on *Reuters*' story when contacted.

Competition in the electric luxury SUV segment is expected to explode within the next four years. Rivian's R1S is slated to be among the first to market, with launch planned as soon as early 2021, beating [General Motors' rumored offering](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/30505/talks-of-electric-hummer-brand-revival-heat-up-as-gm-works-on-new-uaw-deal-report>) to showrooms. Followup blows will proceed in the same fashion, with loosely Rivian-allied Lincoln dropping its biggest EV in 2022, and [Cadillac planning to fire back](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/25938/cadillac-takes-aim-at-tesla-teases-all-new-all-electric-suv-for-2022>) no later than 2023.

*Got a tip? Send us a note:* [*tips@thedrive.com*](<mailto:tips@thedrive.com>)

## Author
James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids."

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/jamesgilboy>)