⛔️ Powered Tonneau cover removed from R1T production until further notice on all future deliveries

[Donald Stanfield]

Yep, reading between the lines, here‘s what I suspect will happen:

• Rivian redesigns the gear tunnel & the tonneau cover storage area
  • Literally zero-reason for that sharp-edge on the gear tunnel, I can’t believe their counsel permitted it, it’s too much of a liability
  • Since they have to redesign the auto-tonneau, take the opportunity to design a new gear-tunnel shape/form-factor w/ a more rounded gear tunnel door (safer); easier to do if you have to re-shape the gear tunnel to accommodate a new automatic tonneau storage design in/near gear tunnel
  • Possible this redesign impacts max pack if they use the current space for auto-tonneau cover storage instead as the location for a vertical battery-pack location
• Rivian fixes current automatic tonneau covers ad-hoc for pre-existing design & builds under warranty, but you’re SOL after warranty expires
  • Short-term resale market value grows for auto-tonneau cover models
  • Long-term, auto-tonneau will be an albatross in secondary market resale value, esp. once new redesign is out
• Rivian builds next XX,000 R1Ts (whether large pack, standard pack or max pack) with either manual tonneau (tracks only on bed), or no tonneau, for higher efficiency, using the parts for the track they already have bought when planning for the auto tonneau

As others have said they aren't going to change the body. The sides of the truck are one stamping.

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[crashmtb]

Ford, GM, Dodge have never offered factory-installed tonneau covers. That's because it's a stupid idea. Tonneau are best left to after marketeers.

Brian

GM, for one, offers a factory installed 3 panel folding hard cover.

 

[R1Tom]

It seems from the talk on this forum, that a large percentage didn't even want the powered covers in the first place.

Imagine how much easier it would have been to rush the manual cover and the no cover options to production, and have only a couple thousand bad powered units to now deal with...vs..all of them....

 

[Wentworth]

I’ll bet two of my dollars to one of yours that tonneau is dealer installed, not factory installed.

 

[NY_Rob]

It seems from the talk on this forum, that a large percentage didn't even want the powered covers in the first place.

Imagine how much easier it would have been to rush the manual cover and the no cover options to production, and have only a couple thousand bad powered units to now deal with...vs..all of them....

Well, it's not like we weren't strongly suggesting exactly that every chance we had... not that Rivian looks at forums for their business decisions anyway. Too bad though... it's going to cost them (and us stockholders) a fortune to replace 13,000 tonneau covers

 

[COdogman]

GM, for one, offers a factory installed 3 panel folding hard cover.

Toyota also offers a factory tonneau. Same 3 panel design. I think it’s a Bakflip…

 

[Singletracker]

Ford, GM, Dodge have never offered factory-installed tonneau covers. That's because it's a stupid idea. Tonneau are best left to after marketeers.

Brian

Bingo!!!! Time to cut losses and move on from this power tonneau cover debacle.

 

[Yossarian]

I'm surprised that the last sentence of the last paragraph of the statement on the tonneau cover hasn't stimulated more comment:
" If you choose no tonneau cover, vehicles delivered in the next few months will include the integrated siderails in the bed. In early 2023, we will transition to a design without the integrated siderails. It’s worth noting that when driving an R1T with no tonneau cover, there is little to no impact on range when the bed is empty. "

If it were true, it would be a great argument for forgoing the tonneau completely, however, I'm very skeptical that it's accurate. Under stop and go conditions, or at relatively low speeds perhaps the impact is minimal, but this certainly can't be the case for highway driving.

 

[CommodoreAmiga]

I'm surprised that the last sentence of the last paragraph of the statement on the tonneau cover hasn't stimulated more comment:
" If you choose no tonneau cover, vehicles delivered in the next few months will include the integrated siderails in the bed. In early 2023, we will transition to a design without the integrated siderails. It’s worth noting that when driving an R1T with no tonneau cover, there is little to no impact on range when the bed is empty. "

If it were true, it would be a great argument for forgoing the tonneau completely, however, I'm very skeptical that it's accurate. Under stop and go conditions, or at relatively low speeds perhaps the impact is minimal, but this certainly can't be the case for highway driving.

They don’t define “little” so it’s puffery. Just marketing fluff.

 

[wizard467]

I'm surprised that the last sentence of the last paragraph of the statement on the tonneau cover hasn't stimulated more comment:
" If you choose no tonneau cover, vehicles delivered in the next few months will include the integrated siderails in the bed. In early 2023, we will transition to a design without the integrated siderails. It’s worth noting that when driving an R1T with no tonneau cover, there is little to no impact on range when the bed is empty. "

If it were true, it would be a great argument for forgoing the tonneau completely, however, I'm very skeptical that it's accurate. Under stop and go conditions, or at relatively low speeds perhaps the impact is minimal, but this certainly can't be the case for highway driving.

MythBusters did a show on this; the bed being open doesn’t hurt range. If I remember correctly their explanation was a bubble of air “settles” in the truck bed and acts in a way similar to having an actual cover.

 

[Yossarian]

My guess is that Rivian is using the results of a 2011 Department of Energy study as the basis for the "little to no impact on range" assertion. That study apparently found that a tonneau cover improved mileage by 3.6% under some conditions.

 

[Coj]

​ ​ ​ Hi Adam,​ We recently shared with R1T owners that we are upgrading the powered tonneau cover. As we go through the process, we are removing the powered tonneau cover from production. We plan to re-introduce this feature later, but a date has not been set. For the foreseeable future, all R1Ts will come with either a manual tonneau cover or no tonneau cover. Since you have selected a powered tonneau cover, your configuration will need to be updated to either a manual tonneau cover or no tonneau cover. It’s important to note this choice will not impact your delivery timing estimate coming later this month. Our manual tonneau cover is comprised of four interlocking panels constructed of a durable aluminum composite that slide in and out of the bed’s integrated siderails. When not in use, the panels store in a cargo bag and fit easily in the Gear Tunnel. The manual tonneau cover is fully lockable and offers protection against light weather. If you are taking delivery soon, your panels will ship later. Our current estimate is early 2023. Photos and a full demonstration of the manual tonneau cover will be shared before then. If you choose no tonneau cover, vehicles delivered in the next few months will include the integrated siderails in the bed. In early 2023, we will transition to a design without the integrated siderails. It’s worth noting that when driving an R1T with no tonneau cover, there is little to no impact on range when the bed is empty.​

​ ​ ​ If you have any questions on this update, our team is here to help. Please don’t hesitate to reach out. Tony Caravano Head of Rivian Customer Engagement​

I was "lucky" enough to get the power tonneau cover when my truck arrived. There was a "fix" they did the initially they thought I would need to come back for that was completed before I picked it up.

So my question is this. What can I do to preserve the life of the cover? If it delicate or finicky what actions can I take as an owner to make sure it has a long life without repair?

 

[TXR1S]

I am also amazed no one has done hardcore testing of the range impact of the tonneau. All of the old studies and mythbusters are 1000% irrelevant to the R1T, which has completely different airflow characteristics, and a spoiler that literally directs air into the bed.

 

[Wentworth]

My guess is that Rivian is using the results of a 2011 Department of Energy study as the basis for the "little to no impact on range" assertion. That study apparently found that a tonneau cover improved mileage by 3.6% under some conditions.

In numbers terms, this means that one could travel 310.8 miles rather than 300 using the same amount of energy, and that $100 of energy with the tonneau costs $103.60 without. Do with those numbers what you wish, I just wanted to put some perspective on the everyday impact to an owner.

 

[mabowden]

Ford, GM, Dodge have never offered factory-installed tonneau covers. That's because it's a stupid idea. Tonneau are best left to after marketeers.

Brian

I agree with this statement. I think Rivian was trying to offer something different by doing the auto tonneau, and it was a heavily advertised feature.

This is one of the things that happens with new automakers- they get ambitious and think things are easy. Now Rivian is dealing with that pain. They'd be in a world of hurt if it weren't for all the cash from the IPO.

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