Max Pack delayed to 2024 according to configurator / email ?

[R1Sky Business]

Earlier this spring I spoke with someone - off the record - who had been at Rivian for at least 5 years. He told me that if you want to actually get the truck, don't wait for the Max. Other than a test mule here and there, they haven't done much with them yet. The at-the-time estimate of 2023 deliveries he believed was just the temporary "kick the can down the road" placeholder for Max packs before they could kick the can a little harder. Looks like he was right. Hopefully there's a chance the Max pack benefits from some different architecture and battery tech.

I switched to a Large pack, got my truck, and recently got nearly 350mi on a single charge of freeway driving so I was happy with that.

Impressive range

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[R1Sky Business]

On the bright side, Rivian comms is killing it on Fridays.

Not just figuratively

 

[R1Sky Business]

Does anyone remember when Rivian first announced their truck, they said they would make the 400 mile range version first.

Remember that?

Just words....

 

[R1Sky Business]

What a kick to the NUTS! I've been a massive supporter, attended all the events, got friends to order the R1T, been holding out for the MAX pack for cold weather / towing... and feel like it's been a bait and switch since my reservation Dec. 2018. I've been played.

out Rivian...

U bailing out?

 

[R1Sky Business]

Can't blame you for being miffed. I am too.

As far as new tech in a 2024 Rivian R1T Max Pack, I doubt it. They have only made 15,000-20,000 vehicles in their whole history. They probably need to make another 50,000 vehicles before they invest in new engineering and new manufacturing.

Although, they use electric motors made by Bosch. And the batteries are made by Samsung SDI. So the question is, can Samsung and Bosch change the design(s), and not charge Rivian a megaton to do that? It would probably be cheaper for all to just keep the engineering all the same for another 12 months.

Or longer

 

[R1Sky Business]

On the bright side, there's ASCII art Easter Eggs for Halloween.

This is the skeleton R1 after they deleted the:

• 180 degree tailgate
• tie-down hooks
• lidar
• power tonneau
• kitchen
• shuttle
• frunk shrunk
• max pack

Tank turn & electrochromatic glass roof

 

[R1Sky Business]

yup. my max pak R1T reserved earlier this year is now slated for 2024. I think this is a hard pass for me.

U bailing out?

 

[R1Sky Business]

Well, I've been holding out for a max pack for two years now so I'll wait. At the same time I put a reservation on day one for Silverado EV. So whoever gets me the truck first gets my business.

Enjoy the Silverado

 

[R1Sky Business]

I’m starting to have my doubts that they’ll honor our pre-order pricing in 2024 for the Max pack. They’re are in no way obligated.

Only one way to find out

 

[crashmtb]

I didn't even get a real estimate with no service center close by:

The delivery window estimate in your Account has been temporarily set to “Processing new estimate” as we finalize plans for when we’ll have a Service Center in your area. We plan to update your Account with a delivery window in January 2023.​

​

(Charlie Brown: "I got a rock")

I had the same email. There is zero chance of a service centre anywhere near where I live, certainly not in the next couple of years. The closest one in canada will be 13hrs drive away. The closest one geographically is a mere 7.5 hours and an international border away in Minnesota.

 

[crashmtb]

I think all the Max Pack preorders deserve an explanation from Rivian at this point. If it isn't going to be the new 2nd gen 800V architecture with Enduro motors I'm not sure I'm going to wait that long to get one.

I’d love to have had some sort of explaination.

this information combined with the email I got, which was this

made canceling a very straightforward decision. I don’t know why Rivian accepted preorders from places they will not deliver to in any meaningful timeframe.

I am also surposed that their cancellation process doesn’t require some sort of follow-up with an actual human person, vs an email that basically says “you are such a valued member of our community!!! we are happy to take $1000 from you again if you want though! The refund cheque is in the mail we promise! Byeeeeeeee”

 

[zipzag]

The Cybertruck is supposedly going into production in the summer of 2023. Rivian’s Dual Motor release strategy may have been impacted by the news.

Both vehicles types are probably sold out through 2026, except for a major recession. Also, how many women are choosing a CT over a R1S? CT is a Rivian competitor, but probably not a major one.

 

[zipzag]

I’m starting to have my doubts that they’ll honor our pre-order pricing in 2024 for the Max pack. They’re are in no way obligated.

Max pack is the one option that didn't increase in price. Max pack vehicles are no less profitable than any other old price order. The revenue lost on old price sales is an opportunity cost because demand exceeds supply. But on a variable cost basis the cost of producing each extra vehicle doesn't exceed the old price.

The most likely cause of the max pack delay, in addition to cell cost and availability, is insufficient initial design. Just like we've seen in other major features. They may need to do some weight reduction to do a quad motor max pack with winch.

 

[Bborden]

I didn't even get a real estimate with no service center close by:

The delivery window estimate in your Account has been temporarily set to “Processing new estimate” as we finalize plans for when we’ll have a Service Center in your area. We plan to update your Account with a delivery window in January 2023.​

​

(Charlie Brown: "I got a rock")

Same here. I’m in NC as well. They blamed it on being too far from a service center… I don’t understand why they didn’t fight for a SC in either Raleigh or Charlotte from the start. Tesla knew this would be a hot bed, how did Rivian not know?!

 

[Riviandog]

The optimist in me thinks this isn't the case. GM is bringing out 2 400+ mile trucks and supposedly the Cybertruck is still coming with similar range. Rivian will need to have max pack to compete with them. As far as development challenges, there's good reason to assume Rivian doesn't want to release a 400V truck with a 180 kWh pack due to slower charging times. If you look at the Hummer EV, it's capable of 350 kW charging with a 212 kWh battery. Being limited to 220 kW for a very short period of time wouldn't be great when at least the GM offerings will be 800V and over 300 kW. We also know that Rivian plans to release the Dual Motor + Max Pack configuration by summer 2023, which means 800V and in-house Enduro motors. We also know from past quarterly investor calls that Rivian has been testing the Enduro motors / drive units for around six months now in the EDVs in a single motor configuration. So it's probably safe to assume they don't have any two motor Enduro drive units in testing yet, given the new 2024 timeline. If they announce more details on the Dual Motor Max Pack truck and it happens to have a locker at least in the rear, I'd consider trying to change to that configuration if it meant getting a truck sooner. But given that I want max pack to tow, I'm not currently willing to drop back to a large pack.

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