Manual & Powered tonneau cover info update - from my Guide on 7/24/2023

[shrink]

Just got an email from my Guide, who has been promoted. Congrats to him! My experience with him has been great.

The text of his email included the following:

Manual/powered tonneau cover info:

• We're shipping out our manual tonneau covers now to those community members who have already taken delivery of their vehicle with the manual cover on their order. Were working through this as efficiently as possible. Thank you for your patience! This manual cover will also be offered in the Rivian Gear Shop at a later date.
• Powered tonneau covers will be replaced on vehicles in which they are non-functional first, then extended to other vehicles with this installed. There is currently no ETA for when this will happen yet.
• If you have taken delivery of a vehicle without a powered unit, you will not be able to get this option installed.

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[sithrules]

I was at my local SC about 3 weeks ago? and ran into one of their techs who was moving a R1S to the inside area from the parking lot and he confirmed basically the same thing you just posted. He also stated that if you get a truck now you would not be able to install a power tonneau later as he thought that they may have removed components from the trucks that are currently being produced (my thought was a power plug) but he did not elaborate on what components exactly. So the choice for me anyways is either wait for the option (and see how much it would cost) or just forgo the powered version and hope that they change their policy in the future and buy the truck now with a possibility to install a power version later.

 

[technerd]

It really seems like poor design to have the manual vs powered tonneau so different. You'd think they'd make it easy to upgrade at some point, instead of being completely different, I assume they initially planned on having everything come with a powered one, and they quickly pivoted once they realized their design wouldn't work.

 

[MountainBikeDude]

It really seems like poor design to have the manual vs powered tonneau so different. You'd think they'd make it easy to upgrade at some point, instead of being completely different, I assume they initially planned on having everything come with a powered one, and they quickly pivoted once they realized their design wouldn't work.

It would have been so much better if they could have engineered something that was more of a plug and play cartridge unit. Fixed standard connector on one side with a bolt down unit that just filled cavity.

 

[COdogman]

What makes even less sense is at some point they plan to make the no-tonneau trucks so they cannot accept a manual cover either. I don't understand that decision even a little bit. They will literally make it impossible for all those customers to buy one of their covers at a later date.

 

[evhelphub]

Why are they being so weird about the automatic cover? Parts issue? It feels like it is ever added back to the configurator it will be mid next year.

 

[jambaman84]

This is just the frustrating part with Rivian. The lack of communication. They showed off the power tonneau cover months ago, as it was fixed and with two motors. So what is the delay? Why show something and then never mention it again? What is the point??

 

[technerd]

This is just the frustrating part with Rivian. The lack of communication. They showed off the power tonneau cover months ago, as it was fixed and with two motors. So what is the delay? Why show something and then never mention it again? What is the point??

I think they wanted to assure people they had a solution, but I’d bet they were still testing it on employee trucks, then have to get manufacturing ramped up. But they could totally communicate more and at least let us know.

 

[moosetags]

Rivian's love affair with tonneau covers was ill-fated from the outset. I don't think that Rivian fully understood the concept of a pick-up truck. I also think that Rivian did not understand who buys pick-up trucks and how they want them. They should have taken a look over at Ford and Chevrolet and noticed that neither provided factory installed tonneau cover. They left this option to the aftermarketeers. Most pick-up truck buyers in this country never add any type of tonneau cover.

The tonneau became Rivian's Achilles heel from which they are still suffering. Their best course would be to fix the broken powered tonneaus and never offer this option again.

Brian

 

[SteveInBend]

If it's any consolation, it's taken Salsa Cycles 8-9 months (recall notice sent out on 10/07/2022) after a recall of their Cowbell carbon handlebars to get them re-engineered, manufactured, and sent out to shops for replacement. I'm still waiting for my bar replacement.

This is for just a single component made of carbon fiber.

 

[quartz]

It sounds like Rivian will be prioritizing new orders with manual tonneau over those that have the no tonneau option with rails installed.. Bummer, was hoping to snag the cover from the Shop before 2024.

 

[Rivian_Hugh_III]

What are the chances "Powered Tonneau" will be offered in new vehicles for a premium cost? Think it'll happen this fall?

 

[dleepnw]

Rivians path forward with powered tonneaus is very strange. they've been working on a new one for a while but its only for those who currently have a powered one, working or not. if you bought one recently or even not so recently, they removed the option even if you had it on your config prior.

so they spent all this time and money and R&D cycles to create one, then to fix it but they only plan to release it to those who already have one?

this only makes sense if at some point they plan to re-release it as an option.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Rivians path forward with powered tonneaus is very strange. they've been working on a new one for a while but its only for those who currently have a powered one, working or not. if you bought one recently or even not so recently, they removed the option even if you had it on your config prior.

so they spent all this time and money and R&D cycles to create one, then to fix it but they only plan to release it to those who already have one?

this only makes sense if at some point they plan to re-release it as an option.

I think they will. They just don't want to make any promises about it, when or if.

 

[Grajjie]

Rivians path forward with powered tonneaus is very strange. they've been working on a new one for a while but its only for those who currently have a powered one, working or not. if you bought one recently or even not so recently, they removed the option even if you had it on your config prior.

so they spent all this time and money and R&D cycles to create one, then to fix it but they only plan to release it to those who already have one?

this only makes sense if at some point they plan to re-release it as an option.

I doubt that Rivian will no longer offer the power tonneau. I just think they are making it clear that any R1T delivered without one will not be able to get it retrofitted. I'm assuming it just involves too much labor and extra parts to add to not make it worth it even with charging a premium for it.

I do think once they get through the bulk of the replacements for those with broken tonneau covers they may put the option for the power tonneau back on the configurator and begin producing trucks with it again. Considering how they are charging the same price for the manual tonneau as the pre-price hike powered tonneau I find it a wasted opportunity to not offer it anymore at the increased price.

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