Random Thoughts: A quick and easy way for Rivian to save on existing orders.

[Sgt Beavis]

Now that last week’s pricing disaster is over, I found myself thinking about various things and realized that there was a fairly easy way that Rivian could save some cash on many of the existing orders. All they would need to do is let pre-March 1st order holders opt out of getting the tonneau cover.

Right now, on the R1T configurator, the Power Tonneau cover costs $3000. The unpowered cover costs $1800. What would you do if Rivian offered to let us remove that option and get a $1500-2000 credit on the powered cover and $1000 on the manual cover? Personally, I think I would jump on it. While I like the idea of the powered cover, it is also more complexity. The only question I would have is what would be done with the area where the tonneau is normally stored? Would that be additional storage space or would it be dead/unusable space?

What do y’all think? If Rivian offered you that chance to remove content for a discount, would you jump on it? What other features would you be happy do drop if Rivian offered a decent discount in return?

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[Rivian_Hugh_III]

How would Rivian be saving if they extend a further discount? Sorry, just don’t understand

 

[Sgt Beavis]

How would Rivian be saving if they extend a further discount? Sorry, just don’t understand

Let’s say that removing a component saves X dollars. Rivian passes on a discount of $X-$Y. Rivian saves X-(X- $Y). If X is $1000 and Y is $500, then $1000 - ($1000-$500) = $500 saved by Rivian.

If my math is wrong, I blame it on it being early in the morning and me not having any coffee yet. My Louisiana edumacation has nothing to do with it. ?

 

[Gator42]

I’m all for more consumer choice, full stop. That said, Rivian’s immediate goal shouldn’t be to save cash but to prioritize proving they can mass produce vehicles, restore consumer confidence and produce a sustainable revenue stream. An overhaul of their vehicle pricing and options strategy right now seems like the wrong priority and would add complexity and error to an unproven assembly line.

 

[Gator42]

…and speaking of the motorized tonneau cover is anyone else concerned it could become the next gull wing doors mistake, keeping Rivian service center people awash in overtime?

 

[COdogman]

I like the idea - it would definitely save them something. We don’t know what their cost is on that item, so I doubt it would be $3000. I think the bigger problem would be they already had to backtrack so far to cover their behinds after last week, that anything they try to take back from pre 3/1 order holders now will get that same reaction. If they made it optional there is no telling how many people would willingly give up a more expensive option even for a credit - although if it gets them the paint color or wheels they want, maybe…

I would give up the powered tonneau for the manual one if given the option. I just don’t see that thing working reliably for more than a year LOL.

 

[Zoidz]

I have an R1S on order, but if It was an R1T, I would absolutely opt for the Adventure with a manual cover, even at a less than full value credit. I posted a few months ago (after seeing and *hearing* videos of it) that I thought this will be a maintenance challenge over the long haul. Snow, ice, twigs, leaves, etc. Last thing I would want is it jamming after loading the bed with stuff that needs to be secured/dry/covered.

For everone who is getting the power tonneau, I hope I'm wrong.

 

[nc10]

What do y’all think? If Rivian offered you that chance to remove content for a discount, would you jump on it? What other features would you be happy do drop if Rivian offered a decent discount in return?

I could see several reasons Rivian would not do this...

I'm guessing Rivian wants to show overall revenue being high as much as they do about positive cash flow. So it wouldn't be of much interest from that viewpoint. (I get that this may help profitability a little, with the right numbers, and they might even favor minimizing the liability of future warranty costs, if the tonneau isnt' really "fixed".)

I think if they get the tonneaus working, and reliable, its a very good selling point

Also keep in mind Rivian would only save on their purchase price for the parts and materials in the tonneau's. They wouldn't reduce staff, wouldn't use much less utilities, wouldn't get back any sunk R&D or design costs, reduce purchasing people, marketing, delivery costs, etc, that (I expect) are built into the price for customers. So those fixed costs get applied to something else.
Rivian might have a deal with suppliers where the price of the tonneau parts go up if volume goes down.

I'll bet the savings they could really offer on LE pre-orders without affecting the bottom line would be less than we might first think.

If I could just pay something ($500?) for just towhooks and drop the underbody protection, I'd go for it. (a few others have mentioned something like this). Sounds like this may happen someday.
If i could drop the price of the LE edition by $1000, if I get the 21" wheels, I might do that.


" My Louisiana edumacation has nothing to do with it. ?"
Joking aside, my kids went to public schools in Baton Rouge, and earned useful degrees at LSU (tuition free) that helped them get good jobs. No regrets about their edumacation........

 

[crashmtb]

Now that last week’s pricing disaster is over, I found myself thinking about various things and realized that there was a fairly easy way that Rivian could save some cash on many of the existing orders. All they would need to do is let pre-March 1st order holders opt out of getting the tonneau cover.

Right now, on the R1T configurator, the Power Tonneau cover costs $3000. The unpowered cover costs $1800. What would you do if Rivian offered to let us remove that option and get a $1500-2000 credit on the powered cover and $1000 on the manual cover? Personally, I think I would jump on it. While I like the idea of the powered cover, it is also more complexity. The only question I would have is what would be done with the area where the tonneau is normally stored? Would that be additional storage space or would it be dead/unusable space?

What do y’all think? If Rivian offered you that chance to remove content for a discount, would you jump on it? What other features would you be happy do drop if Rivian offered a decent discount in return?

from What they told me this week we‘ll have a choice of power, manual, or none. No mention of price.

 

[Craigins]

from What they told me this week we‘ll have a choice of power, manual, or none. No mention of price.

This is what I would expect. No price change but allow for the 3 choices instead of forcing the powered version.

 

[Attesan997]

…and speaking of the motorized tonneau cover is anyone else concerned it could become the next gull wing doors mistake, keeping Rivian service center people awash in overtime?

I’m honestly not thrilled about the powered cover, feel slightly better about the manual cover but that’s offset by the increased cost of the overall vehicle if I were to choose it. I park outside most of the time so all I can see is debris getting stuck in the compartment that houses everything. I’m not sure if anyone had confirmed if that area is user serviceable. Is there a port I can blast some air in with the compressor to clean things out?

I’m all for weatherproof storage in a truck I can see myself babying this cover more than anything else.

 

[Sgt Beavis]

I could see several reasons Rivian would not do this...

I'm guessing Rivian wants to show overall revenue being high as much as they do about positive cash flow. So it wouldn't be of much interest from that viewpoint. (I get that this may help profitability a little, with the right numbers, and they might even favor minimizing the liability of future warranty costs, if the tonneau isnt' really "fixed".)

I think if they get the tonneaus working, and reliable, its a very good selling point

Also keep in mind Rivian would only save on their purchase price for the parts and materials in the tonneau's. They wouldn't reduce staff, wouldn't use much less utilities, wouldn't get back any sunk R&D or design costs, reduce purchasing people, marketing, delivery costs, etc, that (I expect) are built into the price for customers. So those fixed costs get applied to something else.
Rivian might have a deal with suppliers where the price of the tonneau parts go up if volume goes down.

I'll bet the savings they could really offer on LE pre-orders without affecting the bottom line would be less than we might first think.

If I could just pay something ($500?) for just towhooks and drop the underbody protection, I'd go for it. (a few others have mentioned something like this). Sounds like this may happen someday.
If i could drop the price of the LE edition by $1000, if I get the 21" wheels, I might do that.


" My Louisiana edumacation has nothing to do with it. ?"
Joking aside, my kids went to public schools in Baton Rouge, and earned useful degrees at LSU (tuition free) that helped them get good jobs. No regrets about their edumacation........

Best argument against the idea....

I was fortunate enough to go to West Monroe HS. Willie Robertson was in my graduating class. It's actually a pretty good HS. I didn't bother with college. Joined the Army and then got into an IT career with self training. Now makin' a killin' as a sales engineer.

 

[av8or]

I kinda like the idea, I don’t really need the cover since there is already dry out of cab storage. For 2k off I’d drop it in a heartbeat. They would probably get it back in some other option like paint or tunnel slide.

 

[Ventura]

In my view, they should drop the power cover all together if they feel they will devote much under warranty service time to it.
Personally, I'd be happy with the manual cover, but I really want the ventilated seats (heated is less of an issue here) so I don't want to drop the adventure package.
My guess is that they'd save a small, but not insignificant amount of time in construction in addition to money.

 

[hilld]

Can I trade the powered cover for real leather (carnivore) seats?

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