RIVIAN VEGAN LEATHER - Car & Driver - March 2022

[sub]

I agree with the less than ideal branding, but for different reasons than the ones you cite. I actually think that "vegan" is right on point because there is no other word that can better communicate the idea that the product is animal free. Even an uninformed audience (as it relates to vehicles or materials) will know immediately what a vegan seat material means.

If your #1 concern is ensuring everyone knows that it does not contain animals, then I agree, Vegan is the right word to stick in the title. But if you want everyone to know that it is a comfortable, durable, luxurious, no-compromises material, then it is awful choice.

I think a lot more people care about comfort, durability and luxury than care if it was made out of animals.

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[Speedrye]

Every time I see the term Vegan Leather, this scene from the Addams Family comes to mind:

 

[lostpacket]

I don't know what's the best marketing term for the seats but they probably should do more to broadcast that a lot of the plastics they are using in truck are from recycled ocean plastics.

That makes me happy. Only found out about it from the Sandy/RJ video.

 

[Hexijen]

From the perspective of a vegetarian/near-vegan I like the branding.

Vegan XXX is never even remotely similar to XXX. Even if it tastes fine, it is a huge disappointment when you are hoping it would be similar to the product they claim it is meant to replace.

I used to agree with this statement, but I no longer do. While many are still a disappointment, several newer vegan brands are really good, so if it were me, I would modify your statement to

Vegan XXX is often different to XXX.

I won't fault anyone for not trying new brands when the old stuff was pretty bad, but if you are curious, there are some really great ones out there now.

 

[huskybrewing]

IIRC, RJ told that Sandy guy that some of the plastics inside the cabin are from ocean plastic. Ocean plastics are a big issue, so this is a great idea. But I also understand that Rivian may not want to advertise that some interior materials in its $70k+ vehicles are made from recycled plastic.

 

[stickyfingers]

Pretty sure all "alcantara" is the same. I have a GT3 with alcantara almost everywhere and while it looks nice, I know it is still mostly a buzz word. It is nice because it offers you grip. It is synthetic and therefore cheaper than suede. But since it is marketable, manufacturers can charge you more for it. The roof/pillars of my BMW X5M are also alcantara.. Does it look cool? Sure but does it need to be? Nope. It was part of an options package that wasn't insignificant in cost.

From a racecar perspective, it keeps you in your seat and your hands (gloves) on the wheel when you're on the track. In a day to day driving perspective, it isn't as good. It doesn't wear well, and worn alcantara looks terrible. If you don't maintain it often, once it gets to a certain point, there's no coming back. You deal with the way it looks forever, or you replace it.

agree with the assessment. I have a GTS with Alcantara and love it. It’s not a daily driver and a summer car for the past 5 years so it’s worn well. Like you said you have to maintain it.

 

[3l3c7r1c]

I personally don't like the term "vegan leather" at all! It's confusing like hell!! What does this even mean? Made from Vegan cows? Milk is as bad as cowhide? Can there be something called "vegetarian leather"? What if I call that "petroleum leather" and suddenly people starts to feel bad. I like how other car brands are branding their artificial leathers to focus on quality.

 

[SANZC02]

I don't know what's the best marketing term for the seats but they probably should do more to broadcast that the plastics they are using are from recycled ocean plastics.

That makes me happy. Only found out about it from the Sandy/RJ video.

Not sure the recycled ocean plastic is in the seats. I heard they are using it in their shipping products. Seemed like the seats were other recycled plastics.

 

[lostpacket]

Not sure the recycled ocean plastic is in the seats. I heard they are using it in their shipping products. Seemed like the seats were other recycled plastics.

Yeah maybe awkward wording in my post sorry, but I meant they are using them in the truck, RJ mentioned them in terms of the plastics in the back like the truck bed and spare cover, etc.

 

[lostpacket]

How about "polynocowethane"

They should totally hire me to run their marketing

 

[IPTV65]

You know they spent a BUNCH of time and money testing all sorts of names with focus groups and such so no going back now. Seems they could have saved a ton of money by just coming on here and consulting all the marketing experts...like myself! ha ha

 

[Crotchetyoldfart]

A rose by any other name is still a rose. I think someone said that once. Fake leather is fake leather. The rest is BS.

I do feel bad for the naugas. There used to be so many of them. Now they are so endangered that we rarely see anything made with naugahide. Really a shame.

As for Tesla's vegan leather, my seats feel and look cheap compared to the real thing. I suppose some people like it. If they had a leather option I woulda gone for it. It's warmer to sit on in the winter and cooler in the summer. Besides, I like eating my burgers on leather. It makes me feel like less of a hypocrite.

 

[Monkey]

Vegan leather is not specific branding to Rivian, but rather the branding used by various textile manufacturers for this sort of vinyl material. Tesla and others also call it vegan leather. Some automakers, like Ford, tend to go with other qualifiers like marine grade vinyl. ...similar to the Alcantara trademark on microfiber synthetic suede. Lots of automakers using it and it comes in a variety of forms, densities/thicknesses to fit various uses and price points. It's great stuff.

At any rate, these materials have come a long way since the old Naugahyde days. It's great stuff, very soft, durable, easy to clean.

That said, I'm still somewhat old school and do like natural leather. Especially when it's able to wear in and develop a natural patina. Something about the smell of real leather, old books, tobacco, oiled wood... Like the sound of a naturally aspirated V8. It may not be the way forward, but it's just so damn good. The chocolatey-brown ranch leather seats in my King Ranch F-350 are still the best. Yet I still really like the "vegan leather" in my Teslas.

 

[sevengroove]

I think a lot more people care about comfort, durability and luxury than care if it was made out of animals.

I’m pretty sure that there is a large overlap between people who care if materials are made out of animals and people who Rivian is marketing to as a sustainable electric adventure vehicle brand.

Edit: anecdotally, I personally did not question whether a non-leather seat would hold up as well as a leather seat. Maybe I should have, but the assumption I made is that Rivian will not make a decision that compromises the comfort, durability, and luxury of the seat just so that they can tick the sustainability box.

 

[Monkey]

IIRC, RJ told that Sandy guy that some of the plastics inside the cabin are from ocean plastic. Ocean plastics are a big issue, so this is a great idea. But I also understand that Rivian may not want to advertise that some interior materials in its $70k+ vehicles are made from recycled plastic.

It's kinda too bad that "recycled" has this stigma of being cheap or of lower quality or whatever... I get it, that's how it started. But when it comes to truly recycling various materials, mostly plastics, the capability and quality are there if done right. When it comes to glass and metals, it's all pretty much infinitely recyclable if handled correctly. Doesn't matter which car you buy, the aluminum unibody or panels could very well contain aluminum that was at one time beer cans or a step ladder.

Also the stigma of "plastic" being used... It's not like you sit in a Rolls Royce or a Lamborghini and all the buttons, knobs, switches, dash components whatever are not plastic. Like anything else out there, there are high-quality plastics and composite materials and there's low-grade crap. Can't thumb your nose at it simply because it's "plastic".

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