Official Rivian Email: A Look Ahead to 2023. Rivian Membership cancelled and unbundled into subscription services

[Blueassassin]

Rivian is planning on clawing back the money I saved on my pre 3/1 reservations. I knew that going in I suppose.

https://jalopnik.com/rivians-ipo-filing-leaked-how-the-company-plans-to-make-1847829458

"Level 3 driving capabilities account for $10,000,"
They are really gonna have to step up the driver plus if i have to pay for it. Hell half the time it tells me the truck needs calibrated.

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[hilld]

Hey this is 2023, how about 5G instead of LTE.

 

[atebit]

The value to Rivian of us providing a continuous stream of real telematics data from the “fleet” of day-to-day driving to feed their data analytics systems is well worth the cost to them of providing owners with basic connectivity in exchange, IMHO.

 

[crashmtb]

I also thought when they previously said the “first year” of membership was free they meant MY first year of ownership.

Oh well. The way I see this is if we want Rivian to survive as a company they have to start making money. And they can’t start making if they give everything away for free. I knew I would eventually be charged for some kind of membership and I never expected charging to be free.

I just want to know what it is I’ll be paying for and what my choices are.

Could’ve sworn that’s how it was worded. “Free for the first year” certainly implied first year of ownership. a trial period would surely help hook people, too.


just more of this

The value to Rivian of us providing a continuous stream of real telematics data from the “fleet” of day-to-day driving to feed their data analytics systems is well worth the cost to them of proving owners with basic connectivity in exchange, IMHO.

Connectivity will likely be available for their services, but for front facing stuff you gotta pay. Other companies already do this.

 

[COdogman]

https://jalopnik.com/rivians-ipo-filing-leaked-how-the-company-plans-to-make-1847829458

Oh I remember that! Honestly I’m fine with it. And every carmaker is going to be doing this so I don’t see the point in hammering Rivian for something everyone else will be doing in short order. And I can choose whether I want to pay for Driver + or not (I won’t).

But once again there is confusion around Rivian’s communications, which is just par for the course. Seems like this announcement could have at least come with some actual menu of features we will be able to choose from Instead of just telling us that we will be paying and still not knowing for what exactly.

 

[hilld]

No free charging? Such bullshit, I remember the last ICE truck I bought came with free gas for life.

Free oil changes for life and/or free tires for life is what some dealers around here used to give away with a car purchase, before the car shortages of course.

 

[theyoungone]

Glad to hear they will begin inviting reservation holders to configure soon. They probably want to understand the demand between Quad and Dual motor now that more info is out on dual motor.

& hopefully this means actual range estimates on Dual Soon bc until those are live, dual is just a configuration with less power to me.

 

[rivianUGA]

Hopefully this means that some new features will be rolling out soon. Driver+ needs to expand to a lot more roads. And I would have assumed the level 3 driving would have been a test option before they just throw it out there to buy. but who knows. I was fully expecting to start paying a monthly subscription at some point. But I don't feel like much of anything I currently use is worthy of a subscription. Driver+ is standard, by the way. So it's not that. Spotify I pay for. And the maps and navigation are not very good. I mute it and use Waze for the audio part. I've yet to see a Rivian charger and I live in Atlanta area about 25 miles from where the 2nd manufacturing plant will be built.

 

[theyoungone]

I'm annoyed about the charging ending in April as well, but this company can't keep bleeding cash and expect to survive. More revenue streams are needed, so it is what it is.

That’s kind of how I feel. Yeah it sucks but it means more revenue for them and that I’m all for.

 

[atebit]

just more of this

“You blockheads!!” - Tony

 

[IPTV65]

Hey this is 2023, how about 5G instead of LTE.

Bingo! if they charge for LTE it better be cheap!

 

[dleepnw]

I'd like to know what they consider to be "Advanced Connectivity" per the T's and C's. Without the LTE there's no music other than the not so great option of Bluetooth and playing with your phone while driving. Not to mention the navigation which in my experience becomes pretty useless as soon as the LTE drops.

My assumption is they would cover basic connectivity for navigation, diagnostics, remote access via the phone app and maybe streaming music but not the hotspot or things like YouTube if that ever shows up?

hoping thats not true but will be a complete joke that without LTE we wont have navigation in vehicle. my 13 year old Highlander navigation works without connectivity. should be able to work on GPS and installed maps alone. and this makes the lack of AA and Carplay that much more glaring. why should i pay for LTE on my R1 when i have it on my phone? guess those 3rd party phone mounts are going to see a boon with Rivians.

 

[eemri]

"Level 3 driving capabilities account for $10,000,"
They are really gonna have to step up the driver plus if i have to pay for it. Hell half the time it tells me the truck needs calibrated.

We have a Volvo that has "driver assist" (from what I can tell, essentially what Driver+ is), and it's not only free, but in the testing I've done on my R1T, the Volvo system is just as good or better. Of course, the Volvo one is not improving, so there's a lot more potential in the Rivian. But I'd only consider paying for it if it's significantly better than what Driver+ is today.

 

[dleepnw]

I’m a huge supporter of Rivian and their future, and could arguably be considered a fanboy. But good lord this email is hopeless.

There is zero information anywhere on what is actually in the “bundle” today. WTF are they expecting us to pay for going forward, besides charging and LTE? Also, will maps and traffic work without paying for a subscription? Charging locations? Tony really whiffed on this one, IMO. Leaves more questions than I would otherwise like.

Paying monthly for Nav and charging availability would be bullshit. I’m happy to pay for charging and streaming/wifi in-car.

agree with you. once again puzzled by their communications. do they seriously read these before sending out? the lack of awareness within Rivian's comms team is unbelieveable.

 

[Sully151]

It’s funny, when my wife and I each got a new car, they came with a year of satellite radio. We tried it, we didnt use it, we didn’t renew it, but at least they gave us a taste.

Rivian had said Membership for your first year. I figured that would give me the chance to try it and see if we will use it.

Making me pay from tel he get go, after shelling out $80k, would make me inclined to not even try it.

If I never have it, I won’t know what I am missing.

It’s much better marketing to give the owner a taste, and make them want/need to come back for more. Just ask the drug dealer.

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