Greenville, SC Service Center Open!

[JohnDecaf]

My truck was at the Atlanta center for a motor issue (sigh). My service advisor called and said they were moving it to the new service center that just opened and is waiting for cars to work on. My truck has been transferred and will hopefully be fixed next week.

This is great news for those of us in NC/SC!

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[kurtlikevonnegut]

I find this to be shocking. I hadn't heard anything about it other than a "planned site" on a presentation.

How did they get around the dealer protection laws that prevent manufacturers from performing service?

 

[BigE]

Knightdale, NC is not to far behind.

 

[nc10]

Outstanding news. You made my day!

 

[DuoRivian]

Rivian are making great progress with these newly announced (from the May 2024 presentation) service centers in PA, NC and SC. So it is surprising that the SCs planned back in 2022 in NY and NJ are still largely not ready.

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

I checked the relevant laws and the SC code is clear that it is illegal for a manufacturer to operate a facility for the purpose of performing repairs or maintenance of vehicles in South Carolina. I wonder how Rivian is navigating that and if they are just playing chicken with the state and daring them to sue so that it can get into the appeals system to determine the constitutionality of the law.

 

[nc10]

I checked the relevant laws and the SC code is clear that it is illegal for a manufacturer to operate a facility for the purpose of performing repairs or maintenance of vehicles in South Carolina.

To my reading, the law also doesn't allow manufacturers to sell vehicles in South Carolina. Admittedly I'm no lawyer or approximation thereof, but thinking if they found a way to sell in SC, they could find a way to service also.

From
2023 South Carolina Code of LawsTitle 56 - Motor VehiclesChapter 15 - Regulation Of Manufacturers, Distributors And DealersSection 56-15-45

It is unlawful for a manufacturer or franchisor or any parent, affiliate, wholly or partially owned subsidiary, officer, or representative of a manufacturer or franchisor to own, operate, or control or to participate in the ownership, operation, or control of a new motor vehicle dealer in this State, to establish in this State an additional dealer or dealership in which that person or entity has an interest, or to own, operate, or control, directly or indirectly, an interest in a dealer or dealership in this State, excluding a passive interest in a publicly traded corporation held for investment purposes.............................................

Except as may be provided otherwise in subsections (A) and (B) of this section, a manufacturer or franchisor may not sell, or lease, directly or indirectly, a motor vehicle to a consumer in this State, except through a new motor vehicle dealer holding a franchise for the line make that includes the motor vehicle

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

To my reading, the law also doesn't allow manufacturers to sell vehicles in South Carolina. Admittedly I'm no lawyer or approximation thereof, but thinking if they found a way to sell in SC, they could find a way to service also.

From
2023 South Carolina Code of LawsTitle 56 - Motor VehiclesChapter 15 - Regulation Of Manufacturers, Distributors And DealersSection 56-15-45

It is unlawful for a manufacturer or franchisor or any parent, affiliate, wholly or partially owned subsidiary, officer, or representative of a manufacturer or franchisor to own, operate, or control or to participate in the ownership, operation, or control of a new motor vehicle dealer in this State, to establish in this State an additional dealer or dealership in which that person or entity has an interest, or to own, operate, or control, directly or indirectly, an interest in a dealer or dealership in this State, excluding a passive interest in a publicly traded corporation held for investment purposes.............................................

Except as may be provided otherwise in subsections (A) and (B) of this section, a manufacturer or franchisor may not sell, or lease, directly or indirectly, a motor vehicle to a consumer in this State, except through a new motor vehicle dealer holding a franchise for the line make that includes the motor vehicle

Their way around that is that when you purchase the car you give Rivian limited power of attorney to sell you the vehicle in Illinois, and then registration is completed in state. I don't know how they can use that loophole for a maintenance and repair facility.

 

[HokieBird7980]

Well i was hoping (and still am) that this thread was true since i've been holding off submitting repairs to both my 2022 R1T and 2024 R1T until i didn't have to drive 5 hours to Atlanta or Richmond from Charlotte. Put in both long list of service requests this morning and when it came to the part to schedule the service it did give me another option outside Atlanta and Richmond to choose from. It was somewhere in Kentucky!!! I didn't choose a service site. Figure I'd wait for them to call me and then i'd get clarity on the South Carolina or Raleigh NC sites that are supposed to be coming on board. No call yet, but i'll let you know if they in fact can take cars into the Greenville SC. This may be like the one that is supposedly in Charlotte, that they have a place to service undriveable vehicles in Charlotte rather than towing to Atlanta or Richmond, but have not opened it up as a full SC.

 

[RoverZac]

I want to see if I can get mine transferred out of ATL too, I stay just west of Clemson.

 

[HokieBird7980]

The Duncan, SC service center is open! I have an appointment there fore Feb 3rd to get my 2024 R1T suspension clunks and rattles, headlights (too high) and passenger window trim done. They are taking appointments now if it's something they believe the mobile service can't handle. Once i sent in a video of my suspension noises they moved it from mobile to Duncan. I'm hoping the team there is a good one since this is much better than the 5 hour drive to Atlanta, or Richmond from Charlotte, and even more convenient i think that Raleigh, which also is supposed to open Feb 3rd. I'm still hoping they convert the Charlotte mobile one to a full service center at some point.

 

[nc10]

The Duncan, SC service center is open! I have an appointment there fore Feb 3rd to get my 2024 R1T suspension clunks and rattles, headlights (too high)

Keep us posted how it goes, I live just south of CLT in South Carolina. A better option than going back to Atlanta sounds great. Thanks.

 

[OUTAGAS]

I just got my service appointment transferred from Atlanta to Duncan. Surprised at the backlog at the Duncan location already. It moved my appointment out three weeks, but anything to avoid driving to Atlanta.

 

[DanSexton]

Great, I live in the greater Knoxville area so now I have 3 service centers just over 3 hours away....

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