Rivian
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
Rivian is widely viewed as a leading contender in the American EV market, frequently praised for its high-quality software integration and for striking a functional balance between modern technology and tactile physical controls. While owners often prefer the brand's design and visibility over competitors like Tesla, there is significant community discussion regarding the company's long-term financial stability and high cash burn rate.
Pros
- Strong software integration that is often compared favorably to Tesla and Lucid.
- Effective balance between touch-screen technology and tactile physical buttons.
- Superior visibility and design compared to some rival electric trucks.
- Successful deployment and performance in commercial fleet projects, such as delivery vans.
- Innovative charging location scoring system based on real-world performance.
Cons
- Significant ongoing financial losses and high cash burn rate.
- Reports of software lag and bugs, which some users find unacceptable at the premium price point.
- Concerns regarding range and charging speeds compared to newer or upcoming models.
- Potential for rapid depreciation and tanking resale values.
Caveats
- While the company has reached gross profitability on vehicles, it remains net-unprofitable after accounting for research, warranty, and overhead.
- The brand is currently heavily dependent on external funding and subsidies from partners like Amazon, Volkswagen, and the Department of Energy.
- Long-term viability is seen by many as being tied to the successful high-volume launch of the upcoming R2 platform.
Best for
- EV buyers seeking a tech-forward vehicle that retains physical controls.
- Drivers looking for a premium American-made Tesla alternative.
- Off-road enthusiasts interested in quad-motor configurations.
Avoid if
- You are risk-averse regarding the long-term financial solvency of a newer automaker.
- You prioritize the absolute fastest charging speeds and longest range available in the current market.
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 18-month half-life. The evidence is older (median age ~568 days), and because Rivian is a fast-changing automotive and software brand, these observations may not reflect the most recent software patches or financial updates.
Sentiment
34 positive (71%) · 9 mixed (19%) · 5 negative (10%)
Trust + time weighted score: +60% · raw score 60%
What redditors said (10 of 48)
On a gross basis, not net. That means they've stopped losing money on every car they sell, but they're still losing money once you factor in other costs like advertising, research, warranty repairs, etc. It's an important distinction to make because Rivian still has immense cash burn, and is essentially being propped up by Amazon, Volkswagen, and the Department of Energy.
As a Rivian owner, besides steer by wire, my truck is superior in so many more ways! I have rear view visibility for starters!
It made me think that a Rivian was a good deal.
Lucid & Rivian
Rivian does this through a scoring system that rates locations based on problems and real world speed.
Imagine if American car manufacturers other than Rivian and Tesla could make good quality integrated software in their vehicles :/
the upcoming Neue Klasse models look to be technically outstanding and competitive with the best from Tesla and Rivian.
I love my Rivian, but range and charging speed are the two things that will get me into a newer model.
They designed their own delivery van (with Rivian), of which there are more than 1500 on the road already. and they're the only Rivians I get to regularly see (being German).
This is a far cry from a four motor Rivian and even that struggles against vehicles with front and rear diff locks in true low grip scenarios.