Official Rivian Email: A Look Ahead to 2023. Rivian Membership cancelled and unbundled into subscription services

[R1Sky Business]

Why not just release the structure to end wild speculation?

More adventurous this way

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[R1Sky Business]

No free charging? Such bullshit, I remember the last ICE truck I bought came with free gas for life.

The dude wins again

 

[R1Sky Business]

Ya I really think they need to add more apps, games, streaming videos that kind of stuff before they start charging for the LTE.

They'll just double the fee then....

 

[R1Sky Business]

I also thought when they previously said the “first year” of membership was free they meant MY first year of ownership.

Oh well. The way I see this is if we want Rivian to survive as a company they have to start making money. And they can’t start making money if they give everything away for free. I knew I would eventually be charged for some kind of membership and I never expected charging to be free.

I just want to know what it is I’ll be paying for and what my choices are.

$1/KwHr

 

[R1Sky Business]

I'm almost certain the fine print of the BETA Membership had language that said it was free for one year after delivery.

Start digging

 

[R1Sky Business]

Yeah, this seems like such an own-goal. So few people have got their vehicles that their 'first year' talk means basically nothing. I know they need money, but man. Make it a year of "membership" (whatever that entails) from the day you get your vehicle, and xx miles of charging because the RAN basically only exists in ephemeral form at the moment. My Jeep, as terrible as computer in it is, came with a year of Sirius XM, a year of connectivity and vehicle control through the app, and 3 years of weather and traffic or something. Hard to believe Rivian can't offer at least as much.

Oh well. Depending on the costs I guess I may have to start looking for a way to mount my phone visibly on the dashboard somewhere.

Come on....time to pay up

 

[R1Sky Business]

Hey this is 2023, how about 5G instead of LTE.

Soon, for an extra adventurous fee

 

[R1Sky Business]

agree with you. once again puzzled by their communications. do they seriously read these before sending out? the lack of awareness within Rivian's comms team is unbelieveable.

Even bad publicity.....is publicity

 

[R1Sky Business]

sad thing is based on what ive seen, Rivian's navigation is already "basic" so not sure how it could be less functional without Membership.

Easy now, it can always get worse

 

[0=====0]

Is it confirmed that maps, streaming audio etc will not work without LTE?
can you not just connect your car to your phone's wifi hot spot?

I know the car can be a hotspot itself with LTE, but you can connect it to home WiFi for software updates right?

 

[R1Sky Business]

I was hoping RAN would be always free on their first group of customers (like the first group of Model S got) - being that the RAN is barely built out, and we are early adopters who are supporting their future. But I guess that won't happen. Not a huge deal since I rarely will use them, but just a bit disappointing.

It would cover the cost of the monthly meditation retreats....

 

[R1Sky Business]

Yes, with hourly calls! They really go crazy if you try to cancel.

As long as the call is from your guide....

 

[Lobo]

Hey, at least we don't have to pay a monthly subscription to use our seat warmers.

Hold that thought until the 16th...

 

[R1Sky Business]

I was definitely under the impression that the subscription was free for the first year of ownership. I hope the email thats coming on the 16th is more clear.

Won't be more clear.... ?

 

[RWerksman]

The more I think about this, the more irritated I get..


Can someone please provide an example of another manufacturer that has taken features that were in the car at launch and turned them into subscriptions post sale?

There are indeed examples of fixed-length subscriptions that are disclosed explicitly up front. Common ones are complimentary free charging (time or KW), Sirius XM radio, hotspot data, and in the case of Tesla, Premium connectivity. With these - EVERY SINGLE ONE - you have a clear understanding of A) what is included, and B) the length of the term.


What is mind blowing here is that we know neither. This could be benign - hotspot and RAN changing - or it could be more substantive - performance modes, Driver+, remote connectivity via the app, and/or all data to the car at a redorkulous price.

It's totally absurd and avoidable, and it's almost like the comms department have learned absolutely nothing from the series of debacles last year.

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