Rivian and Bosch sue each other over electric motors production

[CharonPDX]

I do find it just a wee bit commical that Rivian is accusing Bosch of substandard quality control.....

Maybe Bosch hadn't ordered enough wire?? Too soon?

That ain't quality control, that's supply chain mis-planning.

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[Jacopa]

I like my Bosch drill….. lol

 

[VSG]

I wonder if Rivian designed their in-house drivetrains with enough forethought/modularity... so that failed Bosch QMs could be retrofitted with in-house units. Would be shitty if I'm forced to write-off an otherwise fine truck and be forced to buy a new one (which I likely will not be able to afford).

The Dual-motor drive units were deliberately designed with the same form-factor as the old Quad drive units, but I haven't heard anything about whether the new Quad drive units will fit in the same space as the old ones. I would think that would make the Gen2 Quads significantly cheaper to build if they didn't have to re-engineer everything around the motors and could just bolt on the newer engine.

 

[R1Tom]

That ain't quality control, that's supply chain mis-planning.

The quality control part of my comment was based on what I see in posts of panel mis-alignment, bolts not torqued to spec, body cladding not seated properly, poor alignments, etc...

The wire part was about how Rivian is saying Bosch didn't meet their demand need but now can't meet their own demand need with their own vertically integrated motors....

So I just find some humor in that...

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Hopefully Rivian gets a good legal outcome. I have no idea on that. A company like Bosch is more experienced with crafting business deals based on not delivering to the true agreement but still coming out financially well.

Reminds me of Boeing, once the bean counters took over every aspect of that business—and squeezing every penny of profit out of everything; ignoring quality.

 

[bfilippo]

"Believe it or not, I'm not at home, please leave a messsssage... at the beep. I must be our, or I'd answer the phone.... Where could I be?.... Believe it or not, I'm not hommmme."

My ringtone back when that was a thing.

 

[iansriv]

I work in this industry and the antics of Bosch (and the entire legacy auto supply chain industry) is typical. Bosch definitely did not act in good faith; this is how they treat all customers especially a small one that competes with their larger bread and butter customers. It's part intentional and part incompetence. Rivian has the moral high ground. I 100% believe their side.

Hopefully Rivian gets a good legal outcome. I have no idea on that. A company like Bosch is more experienced with crafting business deals based on not delivering to the true agreement but still coming out financially well.

Thanks Brian. I shall proceed to drive the crap out of my car now just to make sure the motors hold. Cheers.

 

[misterturbo]

I like my Bosch drill….. lol

My Bosch dishwasher is top of the line, best in it's class. Quiet too.

 

[R1Tom]

My Bosch dishwasher is top of the line, best in it's class. Quiet too.

My Bosch mid-drive powered e-bikes are awesome too!

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Appliances, power tools and eBike motors are different divisions apart from automotive. Not relevant.

 

[R1Tom]

I wonder if Rivian designed their in-house drivetrains with enough forethought/modularity... so that failed Bosch QMs could be retrofitted with in-house units. Would be shitty if I'm forced to write-off an otherwise fine truck and be forced to buy a new one (which I likely will not be able to afford).

That won't be the case....first the motors in G1 QM are covered for 8 years or 180k miles...whichever comes first. It is a bit of a crap shoot after that....but no different than anything else. Once these are out of warranty it will be interesting to see how Rivian treats the out of warranty customers.

 

[R1Tom]

Appliances, power tools and eBike motors are different divisions apart from automotive. Not relevant.

Relevant in brand reputation. Bosch has a high standard....like Honda...and Toyota. Doesn't mean all a brand makes or brands is always compliant in brand standards...but Bosch is generally speaking a high quality brand. Now if these were Bafang e-bike motors...or Amana dishwashers...or Skil drills that also same brand made Rivian motors....I would not be as comfortable as I am with Bosch. I have absolutely zero concerns with the Bosch motors in the Rivians. Have we seen a single motor reported on a forum that is reported to have failed?

 

[R1Tom]

Reminds me of Boeing, once the bean counters took over every aspect of that business—and squeezing every penny of profit out of everything; ignoring quality.

I always say....if you want to grow a company...select your CEO as someone with an engineering undergrad....if you want to shrink one.....select a CEO with a accounting undergrad....

 

[BigSkies]

The Dual-motor drive units were deliberately designed with the same form-factor as the old Quad drive units, but I haven't heard anything about whether the new Quad drive units will fit in the same space as the old ones. I would think that would make the Gen2 Quads significantly cheaper to build if they didn't have to re-engineer everything around the motors and could just bolt on the newer engine.

I remember part of how Rivian got out of the pandemic supply chain mess was because the enduro motors were compatible with easily available chips, while the supply chain for Bosch compatible chips was heavily constrained.

So I suspect there’s no compatibility for reasons beyond physical form factor.

If compatible, we likely would have seen Rivian retrofit Bosch motors over the short term instead of cutting production with the enduro parts shortage.

 

[SwampNut]

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