RIVIAN VEGAN LEATHER - Car & Driver - March 2022

[crashmtb]

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.

Not cabin plastics. The dunnage and crates used for shipment of parts to the plant/at the plant

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[ESTRUCK]

Next will be GLUTEN FREE DISPLAYS

 

[crashmtb]

Next will be GLUTEN FREE DISPLAYS

Rivian R1: A fat-free food!

 

[jjwolf120]

Rivian R1: A fat-free food!

Don't forget it is also sugar free. On the other hand, like Olestra, it can cause anal leakage.

 

[Trandall]

You will not convince me that Rivian made an 7000LB.+, 4 motor, 800+ adventure vehicle and decided that natural leather seating was the place to draw the line on being eco friendly. It was an economic decision to put it bluntly. I can't say for certain as I haven't driven an R1 for a decade yet but I would be shocked if leather isn't a superior product. I'm not even sure if it's ultimately better for the environment. I doubt I'm the only one that feels this way but I would like to hear arguments that i'm wrong.

 

[E.S.]

Vegan XXX is never even remotely similar to XXX.

I hope not. I like my XXX to be authentic as possible, 'Vintage' even ?

 

[SoCal Rob]

I agree 100% with everyone who stated that the material is vegan but not leather. If they had called it VeganLuxe or something to convey luxury material which is not leather then that would make more sense to me.

On the other hand, I grew up in the ‘70s and ‘80s as a kid sitting on scorching or freezing vinyl seats and I don’t care for the idea of vinyl, er vegan leather, period. At least having them heated and ventilated should make them tolerable.

I don’t even see real leather as drastically better than vinyl when it comes to comfort in very high or very low temperatures. To me, cloth is more comfortable and that equals more luxurious. The fact that it can be hard to maintain makes it less practical and that only increases the luxury status for me. In my experience, leather is a compromise: easier to maintain than cloth but better than vinyl in terms of comfort.

Breathable cloth seats would be my first choice by far over leather or vegan leather with all else being equal. Maybe a plastic mesh as used on high end outdoor furniture would give breathability with less maintenance than cloth?

Ultimately, vegan leather is what is offered by Rivian so vegan leather is what I’m getting.

 

[opnwide]

I'm gonna rock these Vegan XXX ones available on Amazon, so it doesn't much matter to me.

 

[ESTRUCK]

I'm gonna rock these Vegan XXX ones available on Amazon, so it doesn't much matter to me.

DUDE ... I have the perfect compliment to your seating upgrade .... an EATABLE Steering Wheel made of chocolate. Rivian should make completely edible truck.

 

[opnwide]

P.S. Maybe "Beyond Leather" or "Impossible Leather" would work as well. (I kid, as my two sons are following several NBA players and their Vegan diets/workout routines and I have a vegetarian wife.) Me? I'm keeping Ted's Montana Grill in business. My son has even invested in stock in Beyond. More power to 'em, it's hard though for me as home chef. I can see why vegetarian RJ didn't go leather and that's ok. But like @Trandall mentioned, not sure if long-term it will hold up/need replacing/be net-zero for the environment or not. I certainly don't consider myself an environmentalist, but as a deep-sea fishing enthusiast, I'm 100% on board with keeping plastics out of the ocean-huge problem.

 

[mkg3]

I'm gonna rock these Vegan XXX ones available on Amazon, so it doesn't much matter to me.

Nice....

The only things missing are the matching pink steering wheel fuzzy cover and dice hanging from the rear view mirror!

 

[BillyBob]

I'm keeping Ted's Montana Grill in business.

I like Teds Montana Grill. Usually stop by there on my way to the airport when coming back to Seattle.

Getting back to "Vegan Leather"... Thats just one of those terms I just roll my eyes at... I would take a leather seat option if they offered it. (Ventilated, of course!)

 

[sevengroove]

You will not convince me that Rivian made an 7000LB.+, 4 motor, 800+ adventure vehicle and decided that natural leather seating was the place to draw the line on being eco friendly. It was an economic decision to put it bluntly. I can't say for certain as I haven't driven an R1 for a decade yet but I would be shocked if leather isn't a superior product. I'm not even sure if it's ultimately better for the environment. I doubt I'm the only one that feels this way but I would like to hear arguments that i'm wrong.

Firstly, I appreciate you for courteously welcoming counter-arguments. We need more of that on the internet!

My argument would be that they drew the line when they decided to build an EV, period. We are all well aware of the negative environmental impacts of mining for and building batteries, but the net environmental impact over the lifecycle of an EV is significantly less than a comparable ICE-powered vehicle. Was the seat material a purely "environmental" decision? Probably not, and I agree that cost had something to do with it. But based on the brand that Rivian is trying to cultivate - stay adventurous forever, chilewich mats, gardening workshops, using recycled ocean plastics, the 'forever' commitment, serving vegan(!) chili/curry at the press event, etc. - can you imagine them deciding to use real leather?

 

[r1t_kev]

can you imagine them deciding to use real leather?

The public would definitely tan Rivian's hide if that were the case!

....I'll see myself out.

 

[ESTRUCK]

YES ... a cotton candy seat option ! CHEAP to make and VEGAN TOO !

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