Explore Trim Timing?

[BullWink181]

Has anybody heard anything about Rivian's goals/hopes for starting production of the Explore trim?

Obviously, I assume it won't be until all Launch Editions are built and delivered.

But I imagine once that is taken care of, they'd like to get them built alongside Adventure models and eat through their pre-order backlog. I suspect it is also subject to the product/component sourcing issues they've been dealing with. But, if nothing else, it would be nice to hear the company's rough estimate on when that will start.

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[Attesan997]

Would be surprised if Explore begins delivery much earlier than the end of '23. With Adv R1Ts and Launch/Adventure R1Ss there's more demand than production capacity for 2023. I'm not an expert in the space but I'd imagine focusing on Launch/Adv trim is more efficient and better for the bottom line.

 

[ironpig]

I'd say 2024 or they'll kill the explore trim completely. I think they want to prioritize the highest profit margin vehicles. (of course that's assuming the adventure trim is a higher profit margin than explore and I don't know that - but it does generate more revenue).

 

[Guy]

I'd say 2024 or they'll kill the explore trim completely. I think they want to prioritize the highest profit margin vehicles. (of course that's assuming the adventure trim is a higher profit margin than explore and I don't know that - but it does generate more revenue).

I would expect Adventure is more profitable since it is $5500 for an upgraded stereo, a camp speaker, some special accents, a black higher quality roof liner, ventilated seats and wood trim. Those items should be well less than $5500.

 

[ironpig]

Yeah, that all tracks.

Always hoping for earlier, but I’ll survive! I know there is a lot right now that we want to know and Rivian simply can’t provide answers for.

I think they might not even know. They are beholden to the suppliers. I mean they can't even deliver Ocean Coast. If the whole issue with diminished output is tied to supply chain, why introduce yet another trim that could suffer from supply issues?

They probably need to simplify as much as possible.

 

[Gamma rays]

Would be surprised if Explore begins delivery much earlier than the end of '23. With Adv R1Ts and Launch/Adventure R1Ss there's more demand than production capacity for 2023. I'm not an expert in the space but I'd imagine focusing on Launch/Adv trim is more efficient and better for the bottom line.

As an Explore trim reservation holder, I sure hope they don't hold off building Explore trims until all Adventure trim orders are fulfilled. Not all early reservation holders ordered the Adventure trim.

GR

 

[Seattleite]

Fellow cheapskate/Explore-preorderer here - with the added multiplier of OC interior. I was cautiously optimistic for an end of 2023 arrival, but I'll admit I hadn't given much thought to Rivian canceling the Explore trim entirely. Maybe it's time to raid the sofa cushions and switch to an Adventure trim - or wait and see what the LWB Buzz turns out like, although I'm not optimistic that VW won't be greedy about pricing. (Future) decisions, decisions...

 

[ironpig]

I doubt they will cancel the package altogether. Claire has said multiple times that they aren't focusing on profitability in the short term. Since they are currently producing Launch Editions and Adventures together, it stands to reason that they can produce Adventures and Explores together once the Launch Editions are through.

Cancelling the trim entirely seems like a very short-sighted decision. They're looking forward to the goal of 100k vehicles per year of production capacity, right? It stands to reasons that the Explore being less expensive will lead to more orders. So the profit per vehicle may be less, but once they have the manufacturing capacity to fulfill orders quickly, I wouldn't be surprised to see them selling more Explores than Adventures.

The big question is just when that will happen. And as @ironpig said, I doubt Rivian has enough information to give us a projected timeline. Hopefully that changes soon.

They are only producing one version of R1T at the moment. The launch editions are the same as adventure. The only difference is a tiny silver launch edition label on the dash.

Explore has different seats, different trim pieces, deletion of the subwoofer etc.

They can’t even deliver the Ocean Coast interior yet.

And even despite the problems with the tonneau cover they cant even produce trucks without it at the moment.

R1S Adventure editions (launches being a part of that) will soon be the highest priority.

Doubt there will be any explore trim before 2024 at the earliest, but still think they may get rid of the Explore trim completely. The Black Interior will be the base interior and they will say "because we had so few explore orders we are offering those reservation holders the opportunity to upgrade to adventure etc etc".

 

[moosetags]

I sure hope that the poster that feels the Explore trim models will be cancelled entirely is wrong. We put our Rivian deposit down on the second day that they were taking deposits (November 28, 2018). There probably are not many, if any, earlier adopters than us left on the list.

We elected to go with the Explore version R1T because we did not want any of the stuff that came on the Adventure version. We also passed on the Launch version because it was an Adventure version truck. We never dreamed that ordering the Explore version would push us so far back in line. We were last told by Rivian that our Explore version would be delivered in the first half of 2023.

If Rivian plans to nix the Explore version, they could at least let us know and ask if we would like to make another selection. That is the very least they should do for one of their very earliest customers.

Maybe if Rivian had selected to produce the Explore version first, they would be way ahead of where they are now. Just the elimination of the ill-fated tonneau cover would have probably resulted in a 25% increase in production at this point.

We are still anticipating delivery of our R1T Explore version in the first half of 2023 as Rivian last communicated to us.

Brian

 

[TXR1S]

Not looking good for Explore trim - off the configurator now.

 

[Gamma rays]

Not looking good for Explore trim - off the configurator now.

I hope that's just a glitch.

GR

 

[mabowden]

I hope that's just a glitch.

GR

The fact that it says "discontinued" near it makes me think it's not...

 

[TXR1S]

I hope that's just a glitch.

GR

Looks like discontinued.

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...ckage-changes-to-ocean-coast.7600/post-191846

 

[Gamma rays]

The fact that it says "discontinued" near it makes me think it's not...

Looks like discontinued.

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/no-longer-offering-“explore”-package-changes-to-ocean-coast.7600/post-191846

I guess Rivian is really pushing their reservation holders' patience to the limits.

GR

 

[ironpig]

I doubt they will cancel the package altogether. Claire has said multiple times that they aren't focusing on profitability in the short term. Since they are currently producing Launch Editions and Adventures together, it stands to reason that they can produce Adventures and Explores together once the Launch Editions are through.

Cancelling the trim entirely seems like a very short-sighted decision. They're looking forward to the goal of 100k vehicles per year of production capacity, right? It stands to reasons that the Explore being less expensive will lead to more orders. So the profit per vehicle may be less, but once they have the manufacturing capacity to fulfill orders quickly, I wouldn't be surprised to see them selling more Explores than Adventures.

The big question is just when that will happen. And as @ironpig said, I doubt Rivian has enough information to give us a projected timeline. Hopefully that changes soon.

Ahem - https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...kage-changes-to-ocean-coast.7600/#post-191858

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