Rivian

Charging an EV at home is supposed to be about as thrilling as plugging in a phone. One Rivian R1S owner got the opposite experience, and the photos are brutal.

Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe confirmed what the company's cheaper future looks like, even if he's not attaching numbers to it yet. The R3 hatchback's cost will be "materially lower" than the R2, and the R4 waiting behind it will drop the price further still.

Rivian exceeded analysts’ expectations for revenue and raised its full-year production forecast based on early response to the R2, the company’s second vehicle.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into nearly 115,000 Rivian R1T and R1S vehicles after receiving complaints about a left rear toe link separation in some 2023 and 2024 model year vehicles.

EV maker Rivian burst onto the automotive scene with the R1T, an all-electric pickup, then added the R1S SUV, and just launched its follow-up line, the R2 — a smaller sport-utility vehicle. However, CEO RJ Scaringe says more versions are in the works.

Rivian moved into the next stage of growth, kicking off production of its second vehicle, the smaller R2 SUV, at its plant in Normal, Illinois.

Rivian not only knows how to build sought-after electric vehicles (EV), but it’s very good at attracting investors. The latest being Uber which plans to invest $1.25 billion over the next five years to purchase 10,000 autonomous R2 robotaxis.

Rivian’s been beating the drum for its next vehicle, the R2, for a while, and now it’s changed the beat to tell those wanting buy one just how much they’ll need to pony up: $57,990, not including taxes and fees.

Rivian's revenue is up.

Rivian offered good news to investors, increasing its revenues while reducing its losses for 2025, despite a tough fourth quarter when EV sales in the U.S. fell off significantly.

The make-or-break metric for electric vehicle makers is consistently reporting profits, and analysts predict the beginning of that profitability measurement for Rivian is not coming with its Q4 and full-year earnings reports.

We have a small recall involving the Rivian R1T and R1S.

Small electric-vehicle maker Rivian plans to lay off about 600 workers, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Hands-free driver-assistance tech has gotten a lot better in recent times, but it’s still not capable of driving a vehicle without human input, no matter how much marketing you hear to the contrary. Rivian is recalling some vehicles with its hands-free system for an issue that could prevent it from recognizing other cars on the road.

Chevrolet had a large recall this morning, and Rivian has not been outdone.

Automotive technology has changed almost every part of modern cars, but the steering system is one component that has remained mostly untouched. Some automakers have moved to a steer-by-wire system, which removes the physical connection between the steering wheel and turning wheels, but there are shockingly few vehicles on sale with the technology. Rivian is reportedly set to join their ranks, as sharp-eyed forum users spotted a job listing for a program manager to oversee steer-by-wire development.

With its main headquarters in California, EV maker Rivian is planning to buy a second home on the East Coast. This as it prepares for construction of a new manufacturing facility just outside of Atlanta next year.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have become must-have features for many buyers, leaving automakers scrambling as they try to figure out how to monetize in-vehicle infotainment. Some companies have sidestepped those smartphone technologies entirely, including Rivian, but its software has received more than its fair share of complaints. The automaker recently updated the system with new Google features that should improve the experience.

Software-defined vehicles have firmly entered the mainstream, with automakers regularly rolling out updates and remotely issuing recall fixes. That can make the ownership experience much more convenient, but connected cars may also live much longer lives because of their ability to receive updates over time. Rivian’s chief software officer, Wassym Bensaid, recently told The Drive that its software could enable updates for up to 10 years or more in some cases.

Rivian vehicles continue having issues with their headlights. You may recall that the company has to issue an over-the-air update to resolve a software issue that was causing some vehicles’ exterior illumination to fail. But there have likewise been some mechanical problems pertaining to cold weather, with the latest issue forcing a recall of roughly 17,000 examples of the Rivian R1S and R1T.

If you own a gas car and have been considering buying a new Rivian, now could be a great time to act. The automaker is offering up to $6,000 off a new R1S SUV or R1T pickup for buyers willing to request a trade-in of a gas vehicle.

Matt went deep yesterday on why so many recent EV-automaker startups have failed over the years.

You may have seen a Rivian van delivering Amazon packages or running errands around town, but you probably didn’t know that the automaker sold more of them than Ford’s electric E-Transit or the new Chevrolet Brightdrop van.

Rivian owners may be missing out on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the company has piled on nearly every other tech feature in their place. A recent software update brought a wealth of new “stuff,” including streaming video apps.

Consumer Reports recently released its rankings of top automotive brands in areas like reliability and owner satisfaction. Rivian scored near the bottom in the publication’s overall ranking, beating Jeep by two points for the next-to-last spot, but interestingly, the EV maker was at the top for owner satisfaction.

The Rivian-Volkswagen partnership will eventually see billions of dollars changing hands as the German automaker looks to the American upstart for help developing its technology platforms. Recent reports suggest that VW could get a new vehicle out of the deal, as it’s rumored that Rivian may assist in developing the brand’s next-generation Golf hatchback.

Rivian and Volkswagen announced a new partnership earlier this year, but it’s just now become official. The pair recently formalized their joint venture, which could be worth billions over the next few years.

Many automakers operate manufacturing facilities around the world and have to manage health and safety for tens of thousands of employees. Rivian only has one factory, but its track record for safety is one of the worst in the industry. The company has seen more “serious” safety violations than any other automaker since the start of 2023.

Rivian is launching a Halloween-themed update that will help convert its all-electric vehicles into K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider or the DMC DeLorean from Back to the Future. However, for those not interested in media references hand picked to appeal to the brand’s key demographic, there is likewise a generic theme that you can pair with whatever Halloween decorations you happen to have on hand.

Starting October 18th, Rivian is introducing “Car Costumes” as part of its annual spooky seasonal update. Owners will be able to customize both the interior and exterior of their vehicles. However, the brunt of these features are for display purposes only — as the vehicles must remain in park if they are to function properly.

For a long time after their releases, buyers faced extended wait times for the Rivian R1S SUV and R1T pickup. While that situation has largely become a nonissue as the automaker has scaled production and early enthusiasm subsided, Rivian will soon offer buyers another purchasing option that could bring lower prices and much faster delivery times.

While it’s true that EVs don’t catch on fire at a higher rate than gas vehicles, it’s also true that they are exceptionally difficult to extinguish when they do go up in flames. Rivian recently saw several recently-completed vehicles catch fire at its factory in Normal, Ill., which damaged many vehicles but didn’t result in injuries.

The next few years will be make-or-break for Rivian. The automaker plans to release a handful of new models over that time, but it will do so without its current VP of manufacturing. Tim Fallon is leaving the company for “greener pastures” at Stellantis, where he will take over the North American head of manufacturing role.

Rivian confirmed Fallon’s departure yesterday. He spent two years at the automaker and 16 years at Nissan before that. Fallon’s move comes at a time when Rivian and Stellantis are hoping to get new models out the door. Rivian is looking to its upcoming R2 and R3 vehicles as its volume sellers going forward.

Rivian hit a home run with the original camp kitchen, which fit neatly into the R1T pickup truck’s gear tunnel between the cab and bed. Though popular, the automaker discontinued the product a while back, but it recently announced a replacement, which could become the next best thing.

Rivian and Volkswagen recently announced a joint venture, but it first had to pass the scrutiny of the German Federal Cartel Office. The pair got the greenlight, which will see VW making a significant investment in Rivian and billions into building the venture.

Volkswagen is set to give Rivian $3 billion and plans to spend another $2 billion to get the joint venture off the ground, after German officials said the partnership had “no serious competition problems.” That said, it’s worth noting that the German automaker has set performance milestones before Rivian earns the entire amount.

A few years back, Tesla filed a lawsuit against Rivian, claiming that it stole trade secrets when it hired its ex-employees. The suit alleges that Rivian encouraged information thefts despite knowing that Tesla’s former workers were covered by confidentiality agreements. Things just got a bit more frustrating for Rivian, as a judge recently denied the automaker’s request to dismiss the suit.

It wasn't a prediction, exactly, but journalist Peter Ramsay from EVInFocus.com did some reporting last year that suggested executives were calling for Volkswagen to invest in Rivian.

Volkswagen announced yesterday that it will be dropping $1 billion into Rivian -- and perhaps up to $5 billion over time.

This investment from a legacy automaker into a startup EV maker got me wondering -- what other legacy OEMs should put some cash into EV startups? Which startups should benefit?

Rivian started life with significant investments from Ford, Amazon, and others, but the automaker has struggled with profitability in recent times. However, while it has delayed investments in new production facilities and conducted layoffs to cut costs, Rivian is still burning through its cash reserves. Volkswagen could be the one to save the day, as it recently announced a joint venture with the automaker that will inject $1 billion into its operations to start.

The Rivian R1T and R1S have mostly lived up to their initial hype, but they were getting a little long in the tooth compared to the new offerings hitting the market. That said, Rivian recently announced updates to the pair that should help their cause, and the changes bring some stunning specs.

The Rivian R1S and R1T have been on sale for a while now, and the automaker reportedly has significant changes planned to keep them relevant. Electrek found a document posted to Rivianforums.com that shows the automaker will introduce new battery configurations and offer a more affordable entry-level trim for the often very expensive EVs.

Rivian’s vehicles might be popular and offer cool features, but they’re far from affordable. That will change, at least for lessees, for a little while, as the automaker is offering deep discounts on some models.

Though it never spoke publicly about its automotive ambitions, Apple was almost certainly developing a car before reportedly abandoning its work in recent months. We’re now hearing that it might not give up completely, as new reports point to the tech giant partnering with an existing OEM, which in this case appears to be Rivian.

Rivian sells two compelling EVs that have garnered a good deal of happy customers, but they’re far from affordable. At around $70,000 to start, the brand’s R1T pickup and R1S SUV are out of reach for most buyers, even after the $3,750 federal tax credits for some models. The automaker is taking steps – small ones, to be fair – to make its vehicles more affordable, though, knocking up to $5,000 off some configurations. Oh, and you’ll have to trade in a gas vehicle to get the price cut.

Electric-only automakers are going through it right now. Tesla recently laid off 10,000 workers after posting disappointing first-quarter sales numbers, and now Rivian is slashing another one percent of its workforce after layoffs earlier this year.

This week we sit down with Cody Stolle, research assistant professor at the University of Nebraska Lincoln and the assistant director at the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, to discuss a lesser-known problem with EVs and road safety.

In a California two-fer, electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian rolled out a pair of new EVs today, both of which have deep familial resemblances and a host of appeal to overlanders.

Upstart automaker Rivian has had its ups and downs, but buyers have pretty consistently rated it highly for satisfaction. Though the company’s first two vehicles, the R1T pickup and R1S SUV, are expensive, high-end EVs, Rivian has announced smaller models riding on a new R2 platform. The first, a lower-cost electric SUV, is expected to be revealed on March 7, but we’re getting a sneak peek at the specs and pricing thanks to the internet sleuths on X/Twitter.

Rivian customers love their vehicles and the brand, helping it achieve a top spot among premium brand owner satisfaction, but that hasn’t saved the automaker from an overall EV market that has grown less enthusiastically than hoped. The company recently announced that it would lay off 10 percent of its workforce, citing slower-than-expected sales and rising interest rates as being significant headwinds.

Hitting the powertrain of its pickup truck and SUV with a shrink ray has permitted Rivian to offer a new battery option – and a new price point – for its pair of all-electric models.

I review cars online and on the radio, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned in almost a decade of doing it is that, car reviewers are often at odds with the people who actually buy and own the vehicles. Spending a week or a few days on a first drive event are great ways to get a feel for how a car performs and get a handle on its basic features, but living with a vehicle reveals so much more.

That’s the case with Rivian, which recently landed atop Consumer Reports’ list of most-loved auto brands, despite the publication listing the R1S as one of its least favorite test vehicles of 2023.

Rivian has filed a patent for a full-size spare wheel mount designed to accommodate additional components that can enhance the capabilities of the all-electric R1S SUV.

The spare mount has the wheel oriented so the cavity is facing outward, allowing Rivian to throw in cylindrical containers dedicated to specific purposes. The patent list makes mention of the space being utilized for a “first aid kit, waste can, water container, cooler, vacuum canister, compressed air system, toolbox, electrical appliance, electrical cord wound on a reel, a camera, or other types of containers.”

Electric vehicles might not use any fossil fuels to move around, but they’re still subject to efficiency testing. The Tesla Cybertruck delivers impressive efficiency that bests all of its rivals except for one. Rivian’s R1T has stronger efficiency than the Tesla, even when riding on the larger optional wheels and carrying the heavier battery pack.

Rivian’s truck and SUV are two of the more compelling EV options on sale now, but the automaker wants to streamline its operations to increase volume and reduce costs. Company CFO Claire McDonough recently shed some light on how Rivian plans to get there.

It’s easy to complain about the rise of more boring electric SUVs and family haulers, but electrification has opened a new world of performance for even the most mundane-looking vehicles. That’s how we get pickup trucks that can run to 60 mph in under three seconds and family SUVs with similar specs. Rivian’s pickup and SUV both offer staggering acceleration and performance numbers and according to a new rumor on the Rivian Forum, it’s got more to give.

Rivian lost an estimated $33,000 on every pickup it sold in the second quarter of this year, which is kind of impressive considering the cheapest model it sells still goes for a sizable $73,000. Considering its lofty initial public offering (IPO) and enviable product specifications, some are wondering why the company isn’t in better shape.

Though Rivian is hardly alone in selling cash-hemorrhaging electric pickups and SUVs. Ford is on track to lose $4.5 billion on EVs by year's end and is supposed to be underwater by more than $32,000 per average all-electric transaction. Frankly, it doesn’t look like any brand other than Tesla has managed to find a way to make volume electrification work in its favor.

Automakers can work wonders with over-the-air software (OTA) updates, from increasing EVs’ range to adding new infotainment features and safety tech. Rivian’s recent software update improved its vehicles’ ride quality and ride height settings, showing that OTAs can deliver meaningful hardware updates without a tech ever touching the vehicle. 

Except when they’re busy hating them, Americans love trucks. Big, brawny, bruising trucks dominate the sales sheets and roadways from coast to coast since we always seem to need to haul something somewhere. The problem is, trucks aren’t fuel efficient, which is one reason the great big mythical THEY are coming for your trucks. Traditional fuels keep getting more scarce and expensive. 

On the other hand, it’s easy to forget about the cost of your electric bill, since you pay it once a month and unless you’re in Texas, electrical service is always right there. Offloading your energy production to a generation plant somewhere else can easily lull you into the idea that an electric-powered vehicle is the right way to minimize your impact on the earth. But traditional automakers have been somewhat slow to market with widely available electric vehicles for a number of reasons, giving upstarts an open window to find their place.

While others have come to market with varying flavors of car-like EVs, Rivian has gone all-in on the most all-American pickup truck - and a related SUV with legitimate off-road ability. This 2023 Rivian R1T is an interesting take on the EV truck idea. Will it plug into your life?

While most automakers were working out what their first all-electric model should be, Tesla was building up a proprietary charging network that helped assure that it would be the EV manufacturer other brands would envy. The vehicles themselves certainly became the benchmark for electric vehicles. But it was the network that guaranteed Tesla’s dominant position in the market. Simply having access to the Supercharger stations is one of the biggest perks of owning a Tesla, as they’re relatively common and suffer less downtime than rival networks.

Despite originally being exclusive to Tesla customers, the brand has decided to open its ports up to the whole world. Ford and General Motors have even signed agreements with the company so that their customers can utilize those charging stations in 2024. Now it appears to be Rivian’s turn.

Range and power figures certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have come out for the Rivian R1S Dual Motor and have been shared by the relevant forums. Things are looking pretty good, too. Depending on how it’s optioned, owners could be seeing 348 miles of range between charges — which is actually better than the automaker had previously speculated.

Ask anyone who’s been behind the wheel of an electric vehicle lately about the state of public charging facilities and you’re likely to get an earful about broken facilities and wonky payment systems. Say what you like about Tesla (and we often do) but their original tack of building out a huge charging network ahead of dumping millions of EVs on America’s roads was the right call.