Rivian CEO Doesn’t Think Cybertruck Will Lure Away R1T Customers... Agree / Disagree?

[Friday]

I think Rivian will only survive as an electric van and that name will probably be owned by someone else, maybe TaTa/ random Chinese Co/ whatever big 3 survives bankruptcy. The trucks will be an asterisk in EV history. They are nice vehicles though.

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[Mini2nut]

I feel both would be competitors if they could be ordered and received within a reasonable time frame. You can order a brand new Rivian R1T and get it within 1-6 weeks. Very reasonable.

Cybertruck? The CT backlog is measured in years, not months. If you placed a reservation today you most likely wouldn’t receive the vehicle until 2026? 2028? 2030?

I can’t think of any other vehicle in automotive history that has collected over 2 million reservations.

 

[Crissa]

I can’t think of any other vehicle in history that has collected over 2 million reservations.

That's because it's never happened before. It's almost an order of magnitude more than the next - which was also a Tesla. More reservations have been made than most mass-market cars sell in units.

It's mind-boggling.

-Crissa

 

[anionic1]

I think there are a lot of people out there waiting for a reasonable priced electric truck with a decent range (north of 300 mi). They all seem to be $70k or more currently. Range is important to many truck owners as many use their trucks to haul stuff. And there are a lot of really long range ICE trucks for less than $70k. If the CT comes out with a great option with 350 mile range or more for less than $70k, these other vendors better adjust their Venn diagrams.

 

[HaulingAss]

Um, no. Tesla is a more efficient manufacturer than Rivian (or any other automaker for that matter). They wouldn't have put Cybertruck into production if they were going to lose money on every one they sold.

Tesla is far more efficient than legacy auto and this is how they were able to build out their global Supercharger Network, service and delivery center network, and develop things like Dojo and Optimus robots, all while showing annual profits every year for the last 4 years (counting 2023). The annual losses from the early days were simply because they weren't selling enough cars to pay for all the other initiatives (and without the Supercharger Network, they wouldn't have been able to sell enough cars).

The fact that they were able to do that shows just how much more efficiently they can build and deliver cars, set up service centers, and build out charging support than legacy auto (who don't have the expense of building out fueling stations and service centers). This is why Tesla can offer new EV buyers good value while still making a profit. Rivian does spend a certain amount of money building out the Rivian Charging network, but it is not, and never will be, anything like the Supercharger Network. The Rivian R1T and R1S will always lose money, IMO, because it's a very expensive EV to build. It was not designed to be easily built. If Rivian is going to turn profitable, they need a new generation car that is easier to build and can be sold in higher volumes. RJ Scaringe, Rivian's CEO has projected they will reach break-even late 2024, but I don't believe that (and I'm not sure he believes it anymore either).

 

[Captcarnage]

History is riddled with companies that went broke because they took their competitors too lightly…

 

[Tedacules]

If I was an executive I sure wouldn’t be on stage saying we’re about to get freight trained into Chapter 11.

R1S will save them.

 

[Trimotor]

History is riddled with companies that went broke because they took their competitors too lightly…

 

[RayzorBEV]

I agreed with RJ. I currently own 2 Rivians and a Tesla, plus I still plan on buying a CyberBeast as soon as I receive my invite from Tesla. I have been waiting for the Cybertruck for over 4 long years
?

 

[Sirfun]

I am glad Rivian is around. I worry about how they can survive with making vehicles at a loss. Yes Tesla lost money for several years. But, the reason they didn't make a profit was because they were spending massive amounts of money on Service Centers, Supercharging stations, and expanding. I don't see Rivian spending towards growth like that. The Rivian delivery vans, are the part of the company I'm most interested in. I personally think their R1T and R1S are going to have a lot of challenges ahead with other companies (not just Tesla), jumping on board the EV express.

 

[PilotPete]

I don’t think the CT and the R1S are in the same market. But, I’m also not the standard use kinda drive, I wouldn’t consider an R1S even on a “short list”. I might be different than most, but not even the same ball park ahhh, I mean stadium no more like, universe.

 

[Trimotor]

R1S will save them.

Not with them bug eye headlights IMHO.

 

[PilotPete]

R1S will save them.

R1S/T are the roads that will hopefully lead them to being able to build the R2 series (insert Star Wars joke here) that will be smaller and cheaper, will sell more volume, and make them a profitable company. Not too far from the Roadster/S/X/3/Y progression. Time will tell.

 

[VinVeg]

I was ready to confirm my order for a Rivian but 2 things happened… They couldn’t confirm I would get it before the end of the year and… wait for it… November 30 release of the Cybertruck!!!!

I could really only substantiate one or the other for at least a year or two and since Early 2024 is a real possibility for CT delivery Rivian is out…

This is a work truck for us: packing and carrying equipment constantly, in and out of construction sites, often in sketchy areas and garages, long road/work trips with gear…. The R1T is gorgeous as a truck and performs well but they dumped the motorized bed cover, quad motor+long range combo, and stove… all things we reserved for. But are gone now…

Enter the CT: with a Vault, lots of cargo capacity and the ability to take door digs and rocks bouncing off on road trips and non-roads, as well as the occasional attempted vandalism by fellow construction workers who do things to your vehicle because your truck isn’t lifted, loud, or rusted, or American enough (Sigh).
Aside from the loud part, the CT covers all those bases and should be fun to drive… Enough that my wife says she would like her own some day! You go girl!!!

What’s not to love?
It’s a giant hunk of beautiful metal!
with a bunch of super computers under the chassis!

I do agree that the R1T and CT are for totally different folks… before there weren’t many option… Now there are!

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