Half Moon Gray Deliveries Suspended.

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Not build quality, color matching.

Who cares about attention to detail anyway?

Wait...

Maybe I will wait for LiDAR after all.

Based on my understanding of modern car manufacturing, somehow the wrong barcode label was put on the bumper skins. That lead to misidentification of parts and the wrong parts were put on assembly racks… which are supposed to be matched to vehicle production sequence.

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[Mos Eisley]

This isn't giving off confident vibes for R2 build quality.

to the degree I have any nervousness about my impending order, I’ll admit this happening isn’t helping. It’ll be our first EV and that will come with a lot of behavioral changes for us. Trying to be honest with myself about rolling with the punches to buy what I do think will be transformational vs too many inconveniences from things needing fixing etc. does have me drumming my fingers a bit.

 

[Mos Eisley]

Based on my understanding of modern car manufacturing, somehow the wrong barcode label was put on the bumper skins. That lead to misidentification of parts and the wrong parts were put on assembly racks… which are supposed to be matched to vehicle production sequence.

And, as it was likely, largely, robots involved… scan code A and insert in slot B

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

And, as it was likely, largely, robots involved… scan code A and insert in slot B

Automation is involved, but at some point a human decided what label go on which parts.

 

[Electric Adventure]

I thought all R2 bumpers are the same color by design for ease of serviceability. That’s what I recall being told at a Rivian event in Denver. Attached are photos of a Launch Green and Catalina Cove with the same dark bumpers.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I thought all R2 bumpers are the same color by design for ease of serviceability. That’s what I recall being told at a Rivian event in Denver. Attached are photos of a Launch Green and Catalina Cove with the same dark bumpers.

This particular case isn’t about the bumper, but the body colored part above it. Clearly demonstrated by link within linked blog entry: https://riviantrackr.com/news/r2-pickup-canceled-wrong-color-bumper/

 

[Jeremy3292]

I thought all R2 bumpers are the same color by design for ease of serviceability. That’s what I recall being told at a Rivian event in Denver. Attached are photos of a Launch Green and Catalina Cove with the same dark bumpers.

It’s the colored panel above the bumper

 

[Eric9610]

This is not a big deal. Most cars have some sort of repair done at PDI in port. The manufacturer does not have to disclose any repairs up to $5k unless you ask. I had a lime rock M3 that had 4.5k worth of damage and until I asked to see the PDI report I would have never been told. I rejected the car and had another built.

 

[macb00kemdanno]

Based on my understanding of modern car manufacturing, somehow the wrong barcode label was put on the bumper skins. That lead to misidentification of parts and the wrong parts were put on assembly racks… which are supposed to be matched to vehicle production sequence.

But this is the completely wrong color — a color that is not even available on the R2. This isn’t a case of someone putting a Catalina Cove fascia on a Launch Green body. These are two incompatible color sequences for the vehicle.

You would think that, using your barcode example, if the paint booth scans the barcode to apply a certain color paint, there would be a failsafe that would say “incompatible color.”

 

[ColoradoEV]

Part of the learning curve for a company that is trying to dramatically increase its production to be profitable. I'm not concerned. Rivian learned a lot from the R1 line and will adjust. This is a cosmetic QA issue, not a mechanical or engineering challenge.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I’m not concerned either. This is a relatively small mistake. As inconvenient as it is for prospective owners, it’s not a life/death issue. Nor is it indicative of a fundamental engineering flaw. Vehicle manufacturing involves thousands of parts and steps. Mistakes happen. No need to overreact. More important is how they handle and correct the mistake.

Anyone interested in understanding how cars are mass produced should take a look at this old BBC 3-part show on the UK Mini plant, hosted by James May. After watching it, you can see how this mistake could have been made. https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0PQIYQHGOQOCRC7VMRE45AS5K7

 

[Mos Eisley]

Automation is involved, but at some point a human decided what label go on which parts.

Right. And before that, somebody typed in the paint numbers incorrectly. I’m curious if that is El Cap or just “wrong”

 

[Zoidz]

But this is the completely wrong color — a color that is not even available on the R2. This isn’t a case of someone putting a Catalina Cove fascia on a Launch Green body. These are two incompatible color sequences for the vehicle.

You would think that, using your barcode example, if the paint booth scans the barcode to apply a certain color paint, there would be a failsafe that would say “incompatible color.”

Having worked in various aspects of plant floor automation systems engineering for over 30 years, there is one certainty - No matter how foolproof you make the automation, sooner or later a production planner, a plant floor operator, etc. will figure out a way to screw it up.

This could have been as "simple" as a production planner selecting the wrong paint color when scheduling the production run and no safeguards were in place. Or an operator physically loaded the wrong color into the paint system, etc. Since this is still in start up phase, unexpected things can easily happen and not get caught.

My company is assisting a customer with startup of a continuous process system we engineered/built/installed. The first week of commissioning a plant floor operator confused two ingredients and staged the wrong ingredient. They made several tons of what ultimately became pig feed, lol. Happens more often that you might expect.

 

[DuoRivians]

As far as I know, the R2 never could have the El Cap Grey color.

Barcodes or whatever aside, how does a color, that never should be associated with the R2, get on the car?

 

[Mos Eisley]

As far as I know, the R2 never could have the El Cap Grey color.

Barcodes or whatever aside, how does a color, that never should be associated with the R2, get on the car?

Wherever/whoever is making the fascia/bumper entered the wrong formula or loaded the wrong paint elements.

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