Testing vehicles in secret can be tough. If you want to put a car through some tests, you need the outside world to help. But how do you keep nosey onlookers from peeking at your unannounced project? If you're Rivian, you disguise it as an F-150.

According to Rivian founder and CEO R.J. Scaringe, the company has been hiding their hardware behind Ford F-150 bodies. Detailed in a report by the Detroit Free Press, the automaker chose that particular body due to its compatibility with the Rivian skateboard architecture. This is a unique layout that places the entire powertrain on a flat spread along the bottom of the chassis, allowing them to place whatever vehicle they want on top.

"We need something to keep the weather out while we put a lot of miles on our skateboard, so they're driving around in Detroit right now, too. They're all over the place, but nobody knows. We're very quiet about that."


Rivian is working on their own pickup, the R1T, as well. Currently expected to release some time in late 2020, the electric truck will have a total system output of 788 horsepower, a 0 to 60 time of only three seconds, and around 400 miles per full charge. Rivian also has an SUV dubbed the R1S in R&D.

Scaringe admits that they have no partnership or connection with Ford. They did recently accept a massive investment by online retailer Amazon, which took place not long before Rivian was noticed to have patented a removable battery system.