DocTwinkie
Well-Known Member
I’m just being a Debbie downer. It’s a great platform. I’m sure they have a plan. Fleet sales are definitely the ideal.Its not a whole other car. They are going to use the same skateboard for multiple vehicles (again a lesson learned from Tesla that Tesla leaned the hard way). The difference for Rivian is that their skateboard is already the size to create these type of vehicles where the Model 3 chassis is not. Fleet sales should allow them to reach economies of scale on their skateboard that are realized by all vehicles in the line. Economy of scale on the skateboard is what matters. When they hit economies of scale we are not talking anywhere close to 100K vehicle. You can put an SUV, an Extended cab pickup, a regular cab pickup, a sprinter van style vehicle, a raptor style vehicle, and a full fledged delivery truck all on that same skateboard.
I know a ton of contractors that drive around in 60k and 70k pickups. Rivian doesn't have to replace all f-150 sales to be wildly successful. Every other car in line for school is a pimped out Tahoe, Suburban, Range Rover, M5, etc, and many people who purchase these trucks get major tax write-offs on them. They don't have to go after the 35K f-150s for a decade.
I think I saw this based on their LA auto showing as more a general consumer truck/off road competitor but I’m thinking this is more the Range Rover and Mercedes G competitor at least initially.
I certainly wish them the best and in the event they have a model that meets my needs and my budget and also have a reasonable service infrastructure and backing that makes me confident they will be around I’ll be getting one. My preorder isn’t cancelled though I’m carefully watching my options.
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