Rivian has shaped a lot of my life, built a DECA project around it and would love your input

[AdventureR1S]

Hi everyone,

My name is Devansh, and I’m a high school junior. Rivian has honestly played a huge role in my life. I’ve been following the company since around 2020, through the IPO in 2021 and the launch of the R1 platform. My family is lucky enough to own a Gen 1 R1S Launch Edition, and we absolutely love it. Since I was pretty young, I’ve been closely following everything Rivian does and, to be honest, I’ve spent a lot of time obsessing over it. Some of you might have even seen me around the forums or the Reddit thread.

Over the past few months, I’ve been working on a project through DECA, which is a business competition where students develop real world research and strategies. My team and I built a project called Project Adventure, centered around Rivian’s sustainability and CSR strategy. We competed in Texas, where around 3% of teams advance, and we were fortunate enough to qualify for the international conference in Atlanta. This was a major accomplishment for us as we head into one of the most competitive conferences and get to represent Rivian!

Through this process, I’ve also had the chance to interact with people on Rivian’s sustainability and CSR side, and it honestly made me appreciate the company even more. Every time I see something new from Rivian, whether it’s a post or a launch update, I get excited all over again. I always try to engage and support however I can, and those small interactions genuinely mean a lot to me.

As we get ready to present this project at the international level, I’d really love to hear from this community. What are some ideas, features, or experiences you think could make something like Project Adventure even better? Whether it’s around road trips, charging, memberships, community, or sustainability, I’d appreciate any thoughts or suggestions.

And if anyone from Rivian happens to see this, I just want to say thank you. You’ve genuinely made a huge impact on me, and it means more than you probably realize. Thank you for staying true to what you stand for and building something that people like me can really believe in.

if you’d like to see our project resources including all our visuals, I’ll link it below:


Rivian DECA folder

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[w0ger]

Congratulations!! Good luck at the international level.

 

[AdventureR1S]

Congratulations!! Good luck at the international level.

Thank you so much

 

[Dave Cundiff]

If you want the group's help, @AdventureR1S, can you make it time-efficient for us to help you?

Link to a Google Drive file, where the component files aren't clearly labeled for relevance, doesn't look doable for me at this time.

Happy to respond to specific questions that don't require excessive thought or typing to answer relevantly and usefully.

Best wishes!

 

[AdventureR1S]

Sorry about that! The files were there just for reference. I’d recommend clicking the COPY OF BMOR and reading through the executive summary for some context behind my project and research. Any improvements on the idea will be helpful!

 

[Rade]

It sounds like you are doing everything right! Congratulations and keep the energy going!

 

[Dave Cundiff]

I’d recommend clicking the COPY OF BMOR and reading through the executive summary for some context behind my project and research. Any improvements on the idea will be helpful!

I read the full "COPY OF BMOR" file, @AdventureR1S. You are way ahead of me in the concept and research, as you should be. I'd hire you in a heartbeat, if I were Rivian, and if you didn't need to go to college first.

I hope @Trinculo73 and others will weigh in. I have these three comments and a question:

(1) I'd rent Rivians when we're out of town, if logistics could be made reasonably comparable to the logistics of commercial rental. I think the idea has significant merit. Prepaying for the difference between 70-80% charge on pickup, and a minimum 20% charge on return, would be VERY convenient for us, and easily arranged if rental parking allows charging at whatever rate is needed.

(2) Nice job of addressing consumer perception and actual limitations, and developing strategies to address both.

(3) My only suggestion for improvement is that I didn't know what you meant with the acronym, "CSR." You dropped this acronym into the file early, without spelling it out as far as I can tell. The words "Corporate Social Responsibility" are politically fraught at this time, and you may wish to use different wording -- but don't good people always want to make a positive difference for others?

(4) Where are you going to find a university that will challenge you to be even more capable than you are now?

An amazing project, Devansh. Expect to go far.

Very best wishes!

 

[AdventureR1S]

It sounds like you are doing everything right! Congratulations and keep the energy going!

Thank you so very much! It’s words of encouragement from this community that keeps me going!

 

[AdventureR1S]

I read the full "COPY OF BMOR" file, @AdventureR1S. You are way ahead of me in the concept and research, as you should be. I'd hire you in a heartbeat, if I were Rivian, and if you didn't need to go to college first.

I hope @Trinculo73 and others will weigh in. I have these three comments and a question:

(1) I'd rent Rivians when we're out of town, if logistics could be made reasonably comparable to the logistics of commercial rental. I think the idea has significant merit. Prepaying for the difference between 70-80% charge on pickup, and a minimum 20% charge on return, would be VERY convenient for us, and easily arranged if rental parking allows charging at whatever rate is needed.

(2) Nice job of addressing consumer perception and actual limitations, and developing strategies to address both.

(3) My only suggestion for improvement is that I didn't know what you meant with the acronym, "CSR." You dropped this acronym into the file early, without spelling it out as far as I can tell. The words "Corporate Social Responsibility" are politically fraught at this time, and you may wish to use different wording -- but don't good people always want to make a positive difference for others?

(4) Where are you going to find a university that will challenge you to be even more capable than you are now?

An amazing project, Devansh. Expect to go far.

Very best wishes!

I read the full "COPY OF BMOR" file, @AdventureR1S. You are way ahead of me in the concept and research, as you should be. I'd hire you in a heartbeat, if I were Rivian, and if you didn't need to go to college first.

I hope @Trinculo73 and others will weigh in. I have these three comments and a question:

(1) I'd rent Rivians when we're out of town, if logistics could be made reasonably comparable to the logistics of commercial rental. I think the idea has significant merit. Prepaying for the difference between 70-80% charge on pickup, and a minimum 20% charge on return, would be VERY convenient for us, and easily arranged if rental parking allows charging at whatever rate is needed.

(2) Nice job of addressing consumer perception and actual limitations, and developing strategies to address both.

(3) My only suggestion for improvement is that I didn't know what you meant with the acronym, "CSR." You dropped this acronym into the file early, without spelling it out as far as I can tell. The words "Corporate Social Responsibility" are politically fraught at this time, and you may wish to use different wording -- but don't good people always want to make a positive difference for others?

(4) Where are you going to find a university that will challenge you to be even more capable than you are now?

An amazing project, Devansh. Expect to go far.

Very best wishes!

Thanks so much for the advice, @Dave Cundiff. I truly appreciate the encouragement, it really means a lot.

You bring up some great points. I did try cross-referencing EV rental platforms like Hertz and found some interesting insights. I believe that positioning Rivian itself as the platform rather than relying on a third-party service could create a more unified experience for consumers and unlock stronger benefits, such as access to the Rivian Adventure Network (RAN) for charging and a more direct pipeline for potential buyers. I also think there is an opportunity to utilize Gen 1 vehicles that were previously shelved due to defects but later repaired for loaner use. That could help reduce costs while also expanding brand exposure. I will definitely continue exploring how this program could align with or differ from a traditional rental model.

Corporate Social Responsibility may not be a familiar term to everyone, but the judges evaluating our work are industry leaders with strong insight into these topics. DECA assigns a new focus each year, this year being CSR, and last year centered around integrating AI systems. Honestly, Rivian could not be a more perfect company for this theme. Being able to reinforce that through conversations with members of their CSR team has made this project even more meaningful to me. Every decision the company makes is thoughtful and impact-driven, which only deepens my admiration and excitement for the work I am doing.

Working at Rivian is truly a dream of mine. I have followed the company’s growth closely and would love to contribute to its mission in the future. I am currently preparing to compete at the international level, where I will be up against participants from countries like Germany, Puerto Rico, South Korea, China, Japan, and Canada. If I am fortunate enough to win, my research will be published for future DECA members to reference. I am hopeful that this experience will help me stand out and move me one step closer to that goal. I’d like to go to college possibly in Georgia Tech to be acclimated to the Rivian internship program or even in Irvine area!

I appreciate your response and will definitely update the thread on my placements in Atlanta, Georgia.

 

[Conseil]

Awesome!

 

[Dave Cundiff]

Consider asking at least some of your Rivian contacts for college recommendations. You don't have to take their advice -- but if you admire the work they're doing, they'll likely be flattered to tell you how they prepared for that work and what they might do differently if they had to choose again.

As you've probably figured out by now, you learn a lot by asking questions with an open mind and heart.

Very best wishes!

 

[AdventureR1S]

Consider asking at least some of your Rivian contacts for college recommendations. You don't have to take their advice -- but if you admire the work they're doing, they'll likely be flattered to tell you how they prepared for that work and what they might do differently if they had to choose again.

As you've probably figured out by now, you learn a lot by asking questions with an open mind and heart.

Very best wishes!

I do have an upcoming meeting with them soon, so I’ll take your advice and definitely ask for that! Thanks so much.

 

[JacobAZ]

The slides and presentation are very good ... look professional, great information and very clear in what they say. But I will be honest ... You have a huge hole in your proposal. I do not know what the judges use for evaluation so it may be different from my professional experience. ... Explanation:

You all are young and learning. I intend this as constructive input the same as I would with manager who came to me with this proposal. Hopefully you will find value in what I write.

You are talking about starting a vehicle rental company. Yet you did not speak to any current rental company or anyone in the industry. Your research, which is good, primarily focuses on EV/Rivian ownership and not short term rental. Vehicle rental business challenges, cost, etc. is probably not what you are thinking. To sell a business proposal you must speak to the actual business ... in this case a vehicle rental company.

Your "Description of Business" is a description if Rivian's business, not your business. The majority of the information, which is good information, is about Rivian, a vehicle manufacturer.

Keep in mind no vehicle manufacturer is in the car rental business. They sell vehicles to rental companies.

I assume, in theory, this is a pitch to Rivian since the plan is Rivian will fund you early on. Currently no car manufacturer rents vehicles, they sell them to rental companies. We also have real world example of EV rental ... Avis lost nearly a billion $ trying to rent EVs in 2025.

So, some the questions I would ask if presented to me ..

How will you not end up losing $ like Avis? What are you doing different?​

How are you going to handle reservations? (call center, online only, help line, etc.). Making sure the requested vehicle is available at the desired location on the date needed?​

How will you handle maintenance, repairs, etc.​

How will you handle the learning curve for first time EV renters (one of Avis's big issues)......​

​

As I said at the start, my intent is to provide constructive help. Throughout my career I have created and lead program teams to solve business problems across many industries including vehicle rental (Ryder truck), Auto assembly and engineering (GM). I wish you all well, we need creative young people like you all to replace us old guys. FYI, some of us Rivian owners are over 70 and still having adventures!

​

 

[AdventureR1S]

The slides and presentation are very good ... look professional, great information and very clear in what they say. But I will be honest ... You have a huge hole in your proposal. I do not know what the judges use for evaluation so it may be different from my professional experience. ... Explanation:

You all are young and learning. I intend this as constructive input the same as I would with manager who came to me with this proposal. Hopefully you will find value in what I write.

You are talking about starting a vehicle rental company. Yet you did not speak to any current rental company or anyone in the industry. Your research, which is good, primarily focuses on EV/Rivian ownership and not short term rental. Vehicle rental business challenges, cost, etc. is probably not what you are thinking. To sell a business proposal you must speak to the actual business ... in this case a vehicle rental company.

Your "Description of Business" is a description if Rivian's business, not your business. The majority of the information, which is good information, is about Rivian, a vehicle manufacturer.

Keep in mind no vehicle manufacturer is in the car rental business. They sell vehicles to rental companies.

I assume, in theory, this is a pitch to Rivian since the plan is Rivian will fund you early on. Currently no car manufacturer rents vehicles, they sell them to rental companies. We also have real world example of EV rental ... Avis lost nearly a billion $ trying to rent EVs in 2025.

So, some the questions I would ask if presented to me ..

How will you not end up losing $ like Avis? What are you doing different?​

How are you going to handle reservations? (call center, online only, help line, etc.). Making sure the requested vehicle is available at the desired location on the date needed?​

How will you handle maintenance, repairs, etc.​

How will you handle the learning curve for first time EV renters (one of Avis's big issues)......​

​

As I said at the start, my intent is to provide constructive help. Throughout my career I have created and lead program teams to solve business problems across many industries including vehicle rental (Ryder truck), Auto assembly and engineering (GM). I wish you all well, we need creative young people like you all to replace us old guys. FYI, some of us Rivian owners are over 70 and still having adventures!

​

Thank you so much for taking the time to share such thoughtful and constructive feedback. Totally understand your perspective and appreciate the new lens through your experience with vehicle rental and automotive industries. Your points are extremely valid, and they helped highlight an area where we can better clarify our thinking and communication.

To start, I want to explain how our project is intentionally structured. We followed the DECA BMOR guidelines very closely, which require the paper to begin with a detailed description of the business or organization before moving into research and strategy.Because of that, our introduction focuses heavily on Rivian as a company. The overall flow of our project is designed as a progression: we start with the Executive Summary then moving onto the company, Rivian. Then move into research, develop findings and conclusions, and then use those conclusions to build our strategic plan. So while the early sections may seem centered on Rivian itself, the rental concept is actually meant to emerge later as a solution derived from our research.

Regarding your main concern about the rental business, you are absolutely right that traditional vehicle rental operations come with significant challenges. Which is why my goal was to not replicate a Hertz or Avis-style model. In fact, we deliberately chose not to base our strategy heavily on existing rental companies because those models are part of what has already struggled, especially in the EV industry. AVIS’s approach relied on high-volume, low-guidance rentals, which created issues with customer understanding, charging, and overall experience.

Our approach tries a new unique way which is that we are targeting specific use cases like adventure travel and trial experiences, rather than mass-market rentals, which will help reduce operational load. Second, we directly address the EV learning curve by integrating onboarding and education into the experience. I tried integrating this for a more familiar experience for kids and new travelers, allowing people to learn how to travel with impact. Third, we simplify operations by focusing on limited locations and more predictable, pre-scheduled usage instead of a large, dispersed fleet. By selecting specific “pilot locations” we can determine the best routes and locations to estimate wear and tear and fleet maintenance.

The reason we did not focus heavily on traditional rental industry research is because those businesses operate on very different assumptions which is high volume, ICE vehicles, and cost efficiency over experience.

However, I do see some major gaps with those models and differentiating it will be key. We’ll definitely refine how we present this so it’s more immediately clear how our model avoids the common pitfalls in the rental industry.

(Sorry for the big body of text, hope this helps a bit and thank you very much for your feedback, I appreciate it so much!)

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