What will we learn on Thursday? A Predictions Thread...

[SeaGeo]

I agree with the practical assessment of @electruck . My perpetual issue with Rivian is that they could manage expectations & communicate so much better. I will totally understand if they have delays or lower volumes, but don't let it be a surprise...set reasonable expectations.

Why the heck will they not share details that have been finalized? I feel like much of the information we're awaiting could have been shared LONG ago.

Rivian might be delaying details that could be perceived negatively, but I think that's a bad strategy. I believe ownership & transparency always leads to the healthiest customer relationships.

Agreed. Call me a pessimist, but I've been assuming they'll do like... A truck a day for a month starting like.. June 28th. And then start doubling that pretty quickly.

Really, it just seems like most people would like a little more communication about the car, and a little more definition of what soon means.

And maybe the first real source of communication going forward we have is the first guide contact. Seems like that would be a weird choice to make, and sort of throws the guides in front of a bus, but I guess it wouldn't surprise me at this point.

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[bajadahl]

The video of the R1T in Austin for example a few weeks ago. The guy taking the video wasn't allowed to get close. Why so confidential? It's frustrating.

Since you brought up my video I feel like I should clarify.... (I do agree with you mostly). They did in fact let me get close and look into the vehicle they just didn't want me taking any video or pictures of the interior.... Their reasoning is that many things on the interior were "subject to change" and they didn't want people getting the wrong idea of what the interior would look like and/or features it would have.

I agree this close to launch it is maddening that they don't have more "confidence" in what the interior is going to look like. I personally think they are still solving problems.... the one example I can think of is the door pockets.... They initial showed the zippered door pockets that looked nice and allowed for easy cleaning but then switched to the god awful mesh pockets that aren't going to hold their shape... It baffles me why they attempted or considered that change.

The optimist in me wants to think that they purposely used cheaper materials for these early builds because testing the drive system was the most important job of these early builds. I wouldn't be surprised if some of these early builds don't have all the components of the Meridian Stereo system either. I think this makes sense and is a similar reason they were wrapping most of the early builds while they worked out paint procedures. They certainly weren't wrapped for camouflage because everyone already knows the body style intent of the vehicle.

The pessimist in me thinks they are trying to find ways to shave pennies....

Either way you look at it the trucks currently on the road don't have the exact same interior as the trucks they intend to deliver..... The real question is....at this point why?

 

[cohall]

In many ways that is more critical to the success of the company (long term) than much of what people are obsessing over (the size of the key fob comes to mind).

When a picture of the key fob is the only new tidbit of info communicated about the vehicle in weeks (months?), I think it's pretty normal for people to discuss it. That's not obsessing, and it's certainly not the fault of the enthusiasts.

 

[DuckTruck]

SeaGeo,
FYI we actually have a thread for that too! Enjoy.
https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/whats-on-the-menu-tonight.1424/

SeaGeo and Trandall,

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[Blueassassin]

SeaGeo and Skyote,

The following website seems perfectly suited for this conversation about information, misinformation, and meals.

Behold!

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That made me hungry...

 

[Trandall]

I think the sentiment is changing by the day from caring about the FOB to caring about having a way to get to work on a certain date. If they deliver 2 R1t's in June and the last LE's don't get to customers until Jan 2022 that is completely understandable, I will be cheering at the feat Rivian accomplished. I have stated I'm emotionally committed to my preorder regardless of exact color, kef fob size, or how the tailgate operates, However if Rivian is substantially late AND doesen't properly communicate there position trust will be lost never to be regained. Not the delay but the lack of trust from poor communication is the only thing I can foresee causing me to cancel my preorder. Currently their is no direct indication that this would happen but to be transparent it should be said.

 

[Rivianmd]

People are overlooking the massive job it is to expand and hire as quickly as they are. They have 1500+ job openings posted right now.

I don't know why people expect more than a few dozen (or maybe a hundred or so) deliveries in June. I would be surprised if it was much more than that. No reason to build a bunch of them and then not deliver them to their anxiously awaiting new owners.


I don't think Rivian knows what the conversion rate and desired configurations will be. Plus they are still trying to hire both delivery and service people to cover most markets. They appear to want more than warm bodies to fill positions and are looking for a cultural fit and values than align with the company goals. Not only do they have to find the workers, but also build the HR infrastructure and develop effective communication channels. In many ways that is more critical to the success of the company (long term) than much of what people are obsessing over (the size of the key fob comes to mind).

I have to chuckle at this post. A snippet of my original post is used without the full context including the unnamed video discussion I cited. And then you state the obvious regarding the challenges they are trying to overcome. The problem with your argument in support is that we never set the expectations (minimal that they are), that was Rivian. If your opinion is that we should never have expected more than a few dozen in the inaugural month, it is just that, your opinion. I could point back to Rivian in that they should be more transparent and set more defined expectations for what a first month of production should look like. Now with all that said, Rivian does not answer to me or anyone else on this forum, but clearly we are all invested in this company and their ultimate success, otherwise we wouldn’t be wasting our time here engaging with each other. I am still optimistic overall and hope that I am driving a R1S and am extremely happy with my purchase at some point in the future. For me personally I’ve never really engaged in a forum like this and am realizing that just like email as an example, tone/context is lost in written communication. Fingers crossed for great news coming today and for Rivian exceeding expectations on a go forward.

 

[Trandall]

SeaGeo and Trandall,

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Thanks Ducktruck I needed that today.

 

[SeaGeo]

SeaGeo and Trandall,

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Fun story, the town my wife is from is home to the Hormel spam museum.

 

[wdlikatruck]

When a picture of the key fob is the only new tidbit of info communicated about the vehicle in weeks (months?), I think it's pretty normal for people to discuss it. That's not obsessing, and it's certainly not the fault of the enthusiasts.

Yeah, what has really alarmed me, besides the on-going lack of details, was the official video with the producer of A Long Way Up: no images of the front interior and the panel gaps on that truck looked huge (note especially gaps around frunk). Rivian better be preparing a big positive surprise, otherwise all current signals point to firm dates for a very mediocre launch . . .

 

[kanundrum]

(┛ಠ_ಠ)┛彡┻━┻

 

[eggpaul]

Since you brought up my video I feel like I should clarify.... (I do agree with you mostly). They did in fact let me get close and look into the vehicle they just didn't want me taking any video or pictures of the interior.... Their reasoning is that many things on the interior were "subject to change" and they didn't want people getting the wrong idea of what the interior would look like and/or features it would have.

I agree this close to launch it is maddening that they don't have more "confidence" in what the interior is going to look like. I personally think they are still solving problems.... the one example I can think of is the door pockets.... They initial showed the zippered door pockets that looked nice and allowed for easy cleaning but then switched to the god awful mesh pockets that aren't going to hold their shape... It baffles me why they attempted or considered that change.

The optimist in me wants to think that they purposely used cheaper materials for these early builds because testing the drive system was the most important job of these early builds. I wouldn't be surprised if some of these early builds don't have all the components of the Meridian Stereo system either. I think this makes sense and is a similar reason they were wrapping most of the early builds while they worked out paint procedures. They certainly weren't wrapped for camouflage because everyone already knows the body style intent of the vehicle.

The pessimist in me thinks they are trying to find ways to shave pennies....

Either way you look at it the trucks currently on the road don't have the exact same interior as the trucks they intend to deliver..... The real question is....at this point why?

It would be better for them to tell us it would be ready in September and surprise us with a bunch of deliveries in June. This close to launch and they don't know what the interior will look like? That's scary.

 

[LoneStar]

The mere fact that this conversation devolved into a perceptual disagreement amongst a clear group of Rivian super-fans shows how the lack of communication is caustic and unconstructive.

 

[eggpaul]

People are overlooking the massive job it is to expand and hire as quickly as they are. They have 1500+ job openings posted right now.

I don't know why people expect more than a few dozen (or maybe a hundred or so) deliveries in June. I would be surprised if it was much more than that. No reason to build a bunch of them and then not deliver them to their anxiously awaiting new owners.


I don't think Rivian knows what the conversion rate and desired configurations will be. Plus they are still trying to hire both delivery and service people to cover most markets. They appear to want more than warm bodies to fill positions and are looking for a cultural fit and values than align with the company goals. Not only do they have to find the workers, but also build the HR infrastructure and develop effective communication channels. In many ways that is more critical to the success of the company (long term) than much of what people are obsessing over (the size of the key fob comes to mind).

Yes, it is crazy and impossible to hire 1500 positions in a short amount of time. But my question is WHY wait until the last minute??? Tell us vehicles will be delivered in September instead of looking like they are running around like headless chickens.

 

[eggpaul]

Yeah, what has really alarmed me, besides the on-going lack of details, was the official video with the producer of A Long Way Up: no images of the front interior and the panel gaps on that truck looked huge (note especially gaps around frunk). Rivian better be preparing a big positive surprise, otherwise all current signals point to firm dates for a very mediocre launch . . .

Yah, about gaps. I am VERY picky about gaps. I own a collision repair shop and I remember the first time we started seeing the Tesla Model 3. The gaps are horrible on that vehicle. I really hope Rivian doesn't have that issue. If you spend $80k (even $30k) on a Mercedes/Audi, you will never have that issue.

After all this secrecy and odd communication, any problems we have with the truck will be magnified and bad for Rivian.

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