Rivian CEO: We're not worried about Tesla's Cybertruck

[teartags]

There are people on this earth who want to move through it more or less anonymously. Then there are the people who want to be noticed. The extreme of that group want to be stared at, or gawked at. The CT is for that group.
"Work truck". I'm already wondering about the looks I'll get pulling up to the job site when I get my R1T. I can't even imagine it with a CT.

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[Ecupip]

Wrong. Probably will be a good truck. True EV enthusiasts are happy to see any new EV, even those that they wouldn't buy for themselves.

Why? I don’t think car enthusiasts will be happy when a Corolla truck comes to market LOL

 

[Redline]

I still shake my head when I read people here defending the CT.

Just blows my mind.

 

[R1TS]

To be fair, Elon could sell out a smart belt buckle that could elicit moaning sounds from the car if you dry humped it. So, it’ll be interesting to see how many of those 2M preorders fall through when specs and pricing are announced.

Even a tiny fraction of that 2M count being converted would equate to a lot more than Rivian would ever sell of the R1T by the time Tesla ramps up production.

 

[Ecupip]

True. We have no indication that CT will be a bad one, and most likely will be quite good. All we know for sure is that it has a polarizing design. Rivian fanboys are no better Tesla's.

We sure do. Body panels that look like crap the moment you drive or touch it, wheel covers that stick out and will surely liter the road, having to rely solely on a camera for rear viability, unnecessary massive glass panels that will cost a fortune to replace, and don’t even get me started on that abomination of a wiper. Nothing on the CT makes sense or is practical. Looks dictated everything, function nothing.

 

[Epicloop]

I wouldn't be caught dead in a CyberYuck™ with that fugly Uniwiper

My wife said the same thing about the CT & I don't think she has seen the wiper yet.
Sad thing is the overall drag coefficient (not just wiper) is a fair bit worse than the R1T from what I have researched.

So, it’ll be interesting to see how many of those 2M preorders fall through when specs and pricing are announced.

I would guess at least half. They lost a bunch when seating went down to 5, I am sure many more with that hideous wiper(likely a hit to the range just powering that unit)
others waiting on the domestics.
Inflation is sure to thin the sales.
There are many reservation holders with multiple deposits on the CT, I doubt they follow through on all let alone one.
Still they have many years of production, just to catch up.

 

[Thedude]

We sure do. Body panels that look like crap the moment you drive or touch it, wheel covers that stick out and will surely liter the road, having to rely solely on a camera for rear viability, unnecessary massive glass panels that will cost a fortune to replace, and don’t even get me started on that abomination of a wiper. Nothing on the CT makes sense or is practical. Looks dictated everything, function nothing.

Some people never wash their vehicles and don’t care what the outside looks like. Hubcaps used to litter the roads everywhere before alloy wheels were on all vehicles. Many new vehicles have digital rearview mirrors and a lot of us drive trucks that the mirror is completely blocked by toppers or cargo anyway. A digital rearview and side mirrors are nothing unusual. Unnecessary huge glass that’s excessively expensive applies equally to the Rivian lineup with the useless glass roof.

Yes the cybertruck looks weird but the Rivian isn’t exactly a looker either with the clown face front end. If it’s priced decently the cybertruck will sell well, especially since it’s backed by a successful and experienced company and not a startup still trying to figure it out.

 

[Zeus]

Nothing on the CT makes sense or is practical. Looks dictated everything, function nothing.

I hate to disagree with you, but I suspect that the electromagnetic forces still apply to the CT seats and will probably prevent you from falling through the car. But then again, the 'real life iron man' might claim that he has unified all four forces, thereby making the CT seats a teleportation device to Mars. Then I'll have to agree with your premise (dang, I hate when the CT throws everyone for a loop).
In all seriousness, I find it difficult that there are folks out there who still believe that the CT will be priced at or below current Model 3 prices.
My 2 cents say that the drastic reduction I'm the prices of the Models X and S was psychological marketing and priming with the goal of making it easier to accept that the CT is the new 'halo' product actually worth north of 100k (in order words, I can buy a Model X for half the price of my preferred CT. No harm done, I'm still saving some money and still driving a Tesla!). Just a wild speculation!!

 

[Zoidz]

...
If it’s priced decently the cybertruck will sell well, especially since it’s backed by a successful and experienced company and not a startup still trying to figure it out.

I'm not so sure about this "not a startup" rationale. Yes, software and electronics will be based on their historical platform, but I expect tons of "startup/early adopter" challenges with the physical part of the vehicle. Look at all the delays, and Musk himself has said they faced unprecendented challenges. The radical CT design and fabrication is startup territory IMO.

 

[PBRAZ]

The problem with futuristic design like the CT's is that it stales very quickly. Classic design withstands the test of time.

 

[joeblk10]

Cybertruck buyers aren’t going to be traditional truck buyers. So, I really doubt it’ll meaningfully replace ICE trucks.

The only people buying them will be existing Tesla fanboys

though i agree with you somewhat the average Rivian buyer isn't a traditional truck buyer either. At least in the CO market.

 

[R1Thor]

Dang, there's a lot of strong opinions in here. I won't share mine, because frankly, it's moot.

But for what it's worth, I know TWO people with reservations who will see them through if the CT delivers at least 300 miles of range AND comes in at a digestible price point.

You can't compare an R1 to the CT. If you can get a CT for 50k (TBD), it's not in the same league. Someone who can squeeze their budget for a CT isn't looking at a Rivian. Hard. Stop.

Both of those individuals I'd mentioned both agree it's polarizing (not particularly attractive). But they want the practicality of a BEV truck at a price point they can afford. They both love my R1, but they won't (can't afford to) buy one.

So, that argument (that the CT is nowhere as aesthetic as Rivian), at the very least, is completely moot.

 

[CrazyOne]

I am sure lot of people are waiting to see if the price is lower for reservation holders. I don't expect it, but who knows what Elon will be smoking. I got a reservation, with no intent to buy another vehicle for 5 years.

 

[Acoustic71]

Pretty different tone on the forums now vs. even just a few months back when the self proclaimed know-it-all's were constantly posting "it's vaporware.. it will never happen.. it's a scam,... I'm telling you!!" to the stark realization that it's actually being built and will be delivered to customers soon enough

Once upon a time, when I will still quite young, and was making way more money than a teenager ever should, I decided the Lotus Europa was the thing I needed most in my life.

And then I bought one....

 

[TollKeeper]

I actually ran across 2 cybertrucks today.. Was on a phone call so I couldnt take pics until after they covered them up...

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