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

[freshpow]

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.

Huh? You’re arguing that we can’t compare the CT and R1T because of the price point, but there is no price point for the CT…

I’m not a Tesla hater by any means (will likely get a Model Y for the wife soon) but I don’t understand the excitement/victory laps that are being taken around the CT’s “imminent” release when we still don’t have any specs or pricing.

Sponsored

 

[R1Thor]

Huh? You’re arguing that we can’t compare the CT and R1T because of the price point, but there is no price point for the CT…

I wasn't 'arguing' anything at all, friendo. I was pointing out the fallacy of comparing 2 options that aren't in the same league.

You may be resting on your superior "knowledge" that there 'isn't a pricepoint,' but factually there have been several touted since the inception of this truck. I literally just Googled it and many different media outlets are still claiming that different configurations are anticipated between 49 and 69.9k price points.

Does anyone outside of Tesla know for sure? No, probably not, but the narrative that all of the people waiting with reservations are 'idiots because they don't know,' who happen to be banking on the idea that it's coming in more affordable than the trucks we're all obsessed with aren't wrong either. They're allowed to hold their reservations and hold out hope.

You think people who dropped $100 to sit in line hoping for a $50k truck should just leave because they don't know *for sure* it's going to be 50? What if it is 60, but is still eligible for the 7500 tax credit, then that 53 may be digestible to some.

Point simply being: the smug attitude of the Rivian elitists claiming the CT is simply going to fall on its face with nothing to back it up is silly at best. And there are, factually, people who will likely buy this no matter what price point it comes in at. And our opinions, in the scheme of it, matter not.

I’m not a Tesla hater by any means (will likely get a Model Y for the wife soon) but I don’t understand the excitement/victory laps that are being taken around the CT’s “imminent” release when we still don’t have any specs or pricing.

Because people are allowed to be excited for things. Even if you aren't.

 

[Acoustic71]

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!!

Yo, Zeus. when you have a moment, would you mind sending my Tilley hat back to me? You created a gust of wind that blew it off my head and into a protected part of the Acropolis while we were walking on the Dionysiou Areopagitou.

If you're really Zeus, then you already know how to get it back to me.

PS: Please hurry, my family thinks I look like a complete dork in a golf cap.

 

[carsly]

I have a Cybertruck reservation (2019) and R1S reservation (2022). Different vehicles for different purposes. Honestly, the R1T doesn't appeal to me in spite of its clever, ingenious, features, general availability and 'adventure' sensibilities. But I do like me some R1S as we've owned many two-box SUV's and find the flexibility to have seating room or storage room are nice options.

As for the Cybertruck, every now and then the world needs someone to shake things up. Everyone doesn't have to like it, or even use it, but options for any gearhead are a good thing. Go back to 2007 and read about all the pundits swearing by their Blackberries that the iPhone was a joke. Or visit 2012 and probably those same 'experts' decried the Tesla Model S as a stunt and that it could never be produced or get 200+ miles of range and pass government crash tests. Here we sit in 2023 with a growing set of EV options, and full touchscreen phones (and no Blackberries), due to different thinking.

It doesn't always work out that way, I do miss my Palm Pilot and the first Canon Elph digital camera - made from metal - was a nice piece of kit. We'll see what happens with Cybertruck, I'm looking forward to checking one out live and could totally see it replacing my Model S Plaid which, while a blast, has far too much power to be usable on public roads. Heck, I have to get off the go pedal before I can even get it all the way to the floor otherwise I'm way above legal limits. Regardless of ultimate practicality, I'd offer its a fantastic option to have in the market

 

[freshpow]

I wasn't 'arguing' anything at all, friendo. I was pointing out the fallacy of comparing 2 options that aren't in the same league.

You may be resting on your superior "knowledge" that there 'isn't a pricepoint,' but factually there have been several touted since the inception of this truck. I literally just Googled it and many different media outlets are still claiming that different configurations are anticipated between 49 and 69.9k price points.

Does anyone outside of Tesla know for sure? No, probably not, but the narrative that all of the people waiting with reservations are 'idiots because they don't know,' who happen to be banking on the idea that it's coming in more affordable than the trucks we're all obsessed with aren't wrong either. They're allowed to hold their reservations and hold out hope.

You think people who dropped $100 to sit in line hoping for a $50k truck should just leave because they don't know *for sure* it's going to be 50? What if it is 60, but is still eligible for the 7500 tax credit, then that 53 may be digestible to some.

Point simply being: the smug attitude of the Rivian elitists claiming the CT is simply going to fall on its face with nothing to back it up is silly at best. And there are, factually, people who will likely buy this no matter what price point it comes in at. And our opinions, in the scheme of it, matter not.



Because people are allowed to be excited for things. Even if you aren't.

You put forth an argument that the two should not be compared since they “aren’t in the same league”, which is predicated upon the still unknown price point.

I didn’t say anything about the CT being a flop or that people should ditch their $100 reservations. I just find it strange when the Elon/Tesla/CT defenders post along the lines of “see, it’s here and it’s great!” when the important pieces (specs and price) are still unknown.

I would have been annoyed if R1T specs and pricing were still largely unknown in the months and weeks leading up to its release.

 

[R1Thor]

You put forth an argument that the two should not be compared since they “aren’t in the same league”, which is predicated upon the still unknown price point.

I didn’t say anything about the CT being a flop or that people should ditch their $100 reservations. I just find it strange when the Elon/Tesla/CT defenders post along the lines of “see, it’s here and it’s great!” when the important pieces (specs and price) are still unknown.

I would have been annoyed if R1T specs and pricing were still largely unknown in the months and weeks leading up to its release.

Hey man, let's agree to disagree. I don't wish to be adversarial; I think we all have common interests and are probably more alike than different.

I guess I might've come off a bit more insistent than I intended to. I should've been a bit more inquisitive than commentary. I suppose I'm curious as to why everyone has such strong opinions about the CT (and the propensity of comments are verily negative). Just because it's not your cup of tea, doesn't mean anyone who enjoys it is wrong. Just like no one is telling you your wife and kid are ugly and your diet stinks, right?

In this case, I will argue that despite not KNOWING the price point, there's still a lot of *belief* in a price range that...again...isn't in the same league as the R1. I do suspect, as I believe you'll agree, that should the CT come in at a price point comparable to Rivian, that neither of us will be surprised if the vast majority of reservations are refunded very quickly.

THAT SAID: Tesla has a metric f*ckton of money and power. If they wanted to sell the CT at a substantial loss as a huge FY to the rest of the industry, they absolutely can. And volume scales very differently. If they can sell 100k of these in the time Rivian is selling 50k, they can absolutely work on a different volume scale and sell it for less regardless of how complex it is. Chalk a lot of that up to the fact that Tesla build more in-house and relies less on outside vendors for most things.

Honestly, either way it goes, I'm interested to find out, and if any of my friends do go through with their reservations, I'll take a ride in the CT for sure!

 

[EVSport7]

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.

Unfortunately, I'm in the same boat. Love the idea of an EV truck, but I can't justify these prices that are moving closer to six figures unless you buy the super bare bones version for only $70k.

Hopefully the pricing is close, otherwise I'll have to get another gas car while I wait for better, cheaper alternatives

 

[Zoidz]

...
THAT SAID: Tesla has a metric f*ckton of money and power. If they wanted to sell the CT at a substantial loss as a huge FY to the rest of the industry, they absolutely can.
...

For a short time perhaps. Until the stock holders see the quarterly report.

 

[Zeus]

Yo, Zeus. when you have a moment, would you mind sending my Tilley hat back to me? You created a gust of wind that blew it off my head and into a protected part of the Acropolis while we were walking on the Dionysiou Areopagitou.

If you're really Zeus, then you already know how to get it back to me.

PS: Please hurry, my family thinks I look like a complete dork in a golf cap.

Ok, you got me, Acoustic. I am just one of many Zeus impersonators, so I have nothing to do with the wind nor do I know where your Tilley hat is.

I'll have to agree with your family about your look in the golf cap. I actually think it's quite apt ?.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

For a short time perhaps. Until the stock holders see the quarterly report.

Bingo. As a publicly traded company they have a fiduciary duty to their shareholders. It's a legitimate legal obligation so Musk can't just pull a Twitter and waste 40 billion of Tesla's dollars on dumb shit like selling the cyber truck too cheaply on purpose or he will go to jail for securities fraud.

 

[Ecupip]

Huh? You’re arguing that we can’t compare the CT and R1T because of the price point, but there is no price point for the CT…

Head over to the CT forum and it looks like we will know more real soon. There are posts of CT Launch Team apparel being distributed.

 

[madgrey]

I'm not sure how to cross shop two vehicles when one is missing all key specifications. In this case, I can only go by the CT exterior (and some glances at the interior) to make any judgement. And therein lies my issue. It looks worse in person than in pictures. Earlier this month, I visited the CyberTruck at the Petersen Automotive Museum in L.A. I'm not sure how long it had been sitting there but the stainless finish and the utilitarian styling are not a good combination. It looked like a neglected industrial appliance. But the staff at Petersen look to be constantly dusting and detailing the vehicles which made its appearance more inexplicable.

 

[Chewy734]

 

[Donald Stanfield]

I would have launched. There's no way I'd drive side by side with that thing.

 

[Ecupip]

It looks to be the height of a CUV in this shot

Sponsored