Letter to Rivian: Please Open R3/R3X Reservations

[falconbro]

Hi Rivian,

We love you and we're loyal. We would much like to place a reservation on an R3/R3X regardless of shipping schedule. You could drop the R3X in 2031 and I would likely still be interested. Many of us are keeping our R1's and many of us are moving them for other vehicles that are more practical for our use case. For me personally, I needed more of a "Work Truck" so I wound up in a Lightning. For others the size was impractical or perhaps, the payment.

Here's the thing. We're here though, and we're fans. Almost all of us who left and obviously those of us that are still here are looking to fill out our garages with granola haulers. I have a reservation for an R2 down, but I'm going to be honest, my wife would much rather prefer something in the R3 size for her commute into an urban environment. I'm guessing there are many like me who might have a reservation on an R2 but wish they could migrate it to an R3.

If you threw us a bone on the R3 like this, at least to current customers. You will have us hooked for all of those years. You will keep us on these message boards and others. We'll click on the YouTube videos, follow the influencers on X. You may have originally envisioned the R1 as your "halo car" but I think it's going to be this. I think this is your Wrangler. We're going to love this thing. We're going to mod this thing. We're going to sleep in it and, well, you get the idea. This is America's new car.

Let us help you convince the world by taking our money. Please, take our money. I personally am willing to trade up to 1 spouse and/or child in exchange for right of first refusal on cars out of the factory, we stand ready to commit our kin if necessary. I've been stockpiling kin now for decades for just such an occasion.

Signed,
Proud former owner of,

• '87 VW Scirroco
• '89 Mustang LX Notchback
• '04 VW Jetta
• '06 VW GTI
• '08 VW GTI
• '09 Smart ForTwo
• '12 Smart ForTwo
• '15 Fiesta ST
• '19 Bolt EV
• '23 Bolt EV

(insert your former small car ownership/opinion/agreement below!)

You lost me at Bolt EV

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[Bee]

You lost me at Bolt EV

You're mad. That car darts around town far better than either of the fat turd MkV GTIs I had by comparison.

I should have lost you at the Smart ForTwos with a 0-60 of 13s. That's right. My excuse there was commuting every day into Manhattan.

Take a stock Bolt through an autocross course and list me 5 cars that are better for cheaper. I don't think you can.

 

[ads75]

Small SUVs sell much better than wagons/hatchbacks. Just look at how many options are avaialbe for each of those segments. Thats why they are doing the R2 first. And the reason the aren't doing the R3 at the same time, is because they have learned their lessons in trying ot build multiple new vehicles at the same time.

 

[Bee]

Small SUVs sell much better than wagons/hatchbacks. Just look at how many options are avaialbe for each of those segments. Thats why they are doing the R2 first. And the reason the aren't doing the R3 at the same time, is because they have learned their lessons in trying ot build multiple new vehicles at the same time.

I think they can easily do both but it's a capital problem. The Georgia plant is essentially "shovel ready" and "turn key" for the job. I actually suspect they "just one more thing" the R3/R3X so they can shop investors for favorable financing. I've also said I think it's rather obvious the audience was Apple. The R3 represents putting their money to use and getting it on the market maybe as fast as '26. (far fetched, but this is a dream)

This could actually come together quickly and it doesn't have to be a merger or an acquisition, either. A robust partnership between Apple and Rivian could be just what both companies are looking for specifically when it comes to viewing software and cars.

I'm nearly 100% confident these talks are happening. I'm very confident some portions of my speculation is true. More of these talks happen than you realize. I was rather shocked when I first started to get peripheral exposure to C-suites how often they talk about buying each other casually among each other. Serious explorations too, not flippant.

 

[Kenmecca]

RJ certainly put the cards on the table with this move. Arguably the R3/X stole the thunder from their next best thing and hope that momentum and cash infusion from a wider market will allow them to build these R3's somewhere anywhere. In reality how many R1 owners are going to step down to a smaller R2? Personally I put a rez down so I have options but in reality the R1S form factor is perfect for my needs. There would have to be some big tech differences to move to the smaller vehicle. The R3X on the other hand is a vehicle I dont "really" need but want. There are not many vehicles that exude that response from customers but I think this is one that does. It seems like a really fun run around vehicle Id probably use more day2day vs the bigger R1. I agree RJ shouldnt steal the thunder from the R2 but he already sort of has and if he really wants to know demand allow customers to put a deposit down on the R3, I bet they would get more deposits than the R2 even though we are looking at probably 2028? I waited 50 mos for my R1S, it will be 5 years old by that point about the time I would be looking to change vehicles or at least add a 2nd one.

 

[ads75]

In reality how many R1 owners are going to step down to a smaller R2?

The R2 isn’t about giving R1 customers a choice to downsize, it’s to get new customers at a much cheaper price point. Personally the R2 size may work better for me also.

 

[usulio]

I think it's brilliant of Rivian to unveil a future product to come only after R2. They have twice the hype now, which can help them raise more money. But they still can focus all of that doubled hype and money on making the R2. Some people are hyped for the R2 itself, others want to see Rivian survive and make the R3. Bigger support, still focused on R2 for now.

 

[Philip]

Hi Rivian,

We love you and we're loyal. We would much like to place a reservation on an R3/R3X regardless of shipping schedule. You could drop the R3X in 2031 and I would likely still be interested. Many of us are keeping our R1's and many of us are moving them for other vehicles that are more practical for our use case. For me personally, I needed more of a "Work Truck" so I wound up in a Lightning. For others the size was impractical or perhaps, the payment.

Here's the thing. We're here though, and we're fans. Almost all of us who left and obviously those of us that are still here are looking to fill out our garages with granola haulers. I have a reservation for an R2 down, but I'm going to be honest, my wife would much rather prefer something in the R3 size for her commute into an urban environment. I'm guessing there are many like me who might have a reservation on an R2 but wish they could migrate it to an R3.

If you threw us a bone on the R3 like this, at least to current customers. You will have us hooked for all of those years. You will keep us on these message boards and others. We'll click on the YouTube videos, follow the influencers on X. You may have originally envisioned the R1 as your "halo car" but I think it's going to be this. I think this is your Wrangler. We're going to love this thing. We're going to mod this thing. We're going to sleep in it and, well, you get the idea. This is America's new car.

Let us help you convince the world by taking our money. Please, take our money. I personally am willing to trade up to 1 spouse and/or child in exchange for right of first refusal on cars out of the factory, we stand ready to commit our kin if necessary. I've been stockpiling kin now for decades for just such an occasion.

Signed,
Proud former owner of,

• '87 VW Scirroco
• '89 Mustang LX Notchback
• '04 VW Jetta
• '06 VW GTI
• '08 VW GTI
• '09 Smart ForTwo
• '12 Smart ForTwo
• '15 Fiesta ST
• '19 Bolt EV
• '23 Bolt EV

(insert your former small car ownership/opinion/agreement below!)

Production this year would be EXCELLENT! The amount of orders would SOAR!

 

[foxerson]

I think they can easily do both but it's a capital problem. The Georgia plant is essentially "shovel ready" and "turn key" for the job. I actually suspect they "just one more thing" the R3/R3X so they can shop investors for favorable financing. I've also said I think it's rather obvious the audience was Apple. The R3 represents putting their money to use and getting it on the market maybe as fast as '26. (far fetched, but this is a dream)

This could actually come together quickly and it doesn't have to be a merger or an acquisition, either. A robust partnership between Apple and Rivian could be just what both companies are looking for specifically when it comes to viewing software and cars.

I'm nearly 100% confident these talks are happening. I'm very confident some portions of my speculation is true. More of these talks happen than you realize. I was rather shocked when I first started to get peripheral exposure to C-suites how often they talk about buying each other casually among each other. Serious explorations too, not flippant.

Interesting take. I can see this. To your point about how quickly something like this can happen, watch the video with the director of Long Way Up that Rivian posted in January.

 

[Trandall]

@Bee, @Florida Panhandler,
I really like What Rivian has put out without dilution or being sidetracked from to much outside influence. For this reason I hope the R2, R3/X, future EDV based campervan, etc. are left to Rivian core brain trust and they do not need to take funding from additional strategic partners. I'd rather they just diluted the stock with release of more common shares if they need capitol prior to R2 deliveries.

 

[NY_Rob]

With the original R1 vehicles, and now the slightly smaller R2 and even smaller R3 line there really will be a Rivian for every family member!

Neither of my mid-20yo daughters need or want an SUV at this stage of their lives, but when I showed them the R3 vehicles.. they both said.. "I'd drive that!" which a great sign for Rivian going forward!

 

[Forest Edge]

I'm not reserving an R2, but I'd pick up an R3X right now if it was available. It'd be a perfect daily commuter / runaround car in addition to a big ICE SUV for when I need the space.

 

[Robin]

Hi Rivian,

We love you and we're loyal. We would much like to place a reservation on an R3/R3X regardless of shipping schedule. You could drop the R3X in 2031 and I would likely still be interested. Many of us are keeping our R1's and many of us are moving them for other vehicles that are more practical for our use case. For me personally, I needed more of a "Work Truck" so I wound up in a Lightning. For others the size was impractical or perhaps, the payment.

Here's the thing. We're here though, and we're fans. Almost all of us who left and obviously those of us that are still here are looking to fill out our garages with granola haulers. I have a reservation for an R2 down, but I'm going to be honest, my wife would much rather prefer something in the R3 size for her commute into an urban environment. I'm guessing there are many like me who might have a reservation on an R2 but wish they could migrate it to an R3.

If you threw us a bone on the R3 like this, at least to current customers. You will have us hooked for all of those years. You will keep us on these message boards and others. We'll click on the YouTube videos, follow the influencers on X. You may have originally envisioned the R1 as your "halo car" but I think it's going to be this. I think this is your Wrangler. We're going to love this thing. We're going to mod this thing. We're going to sleep in it and, well, you get the idea. This is America's new car.

Let us help you convince the world by taking our money. Please, take our money. I personally am willing to trade up to 1 spouse and/or child in exchange for right of first refusal on cars out of the factory, we stand ready to commit our kin if necessary. I've been stockpiling kin now for decades for just such an occasion.

Signed,
Proud former owner of,

• '87 VW Scirroco
• '89 Mustang LX Notchback
• '04 VW Jetta
• '06 VW GTI
• '08 VW GTI
• '09 Smart ForTwo
• '12 Smart ForTwo
• '15 Fiesta ST
• '19 Bolt EV
• '23 Bolt EV

(insert your former small car ownership/opinion/agreement below!)

???

 

[moosehead]

Triple X me please!

 

[kallisti5]

Saying this as someone who really wants the R3 in the future, Rivian should do whatever makes them money + profitable quick.

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