Rivian should focus on features that set them apart from the rest of the industry, not AA/CP.

[the long way downunder]

Maybe the Ford GM and RAM you're talking about aren't the ones I'm familiar with.


It doesn't obstruct the bed at all. The space that's there for the gear tunnel and the power tonneau allowed them to implement the spoiler instead of having sail panels for aero. Given that this corner of the bed top have proven themselves to be strong enough for me to stand on when I have a tent on the truck, it's obviously the preferable option for me.

A lot of the things you are arguing about would have greatly increased the cost of the truck.

If you can look at that side shot photo and tell yourself the bed is not obstructed ...

As for cost, that's such a complex business, I couldn't say. Anything I've listed that an omission would surely increase cost. Anything that's just a crap design (the gear tunnel hatch latch) is just a fail – making it properly would probably have cost time to rework. I'm guessing some time in 2019 or 2020 they made the decision it wouldn't lose them any business or they couldn't justify various regulatory tests if they didn't use a conventional striker/bale. But there's no denying it's a crap design and I can't imagine anyone ever declaring it good enough; it's just not quite bad enough to let it slow down bringing the product to market.

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[sacramentoelectric]

The truck is great. The software is rubbish. The company needs to improve its production, initial quality, service and the ownership experience. But the topic was differentiating features. I come from a background of product design and development in software engineering, so my eye goes to the design fails. I could compile a similarly lengthy list of excellent design (especially around the suspension) and Munro has a comprehensive walk through of the production vehicle according to their expertise in lean design. I've learned a thing or two just watching them tear down EVs since their seminal youtube "this is rubbish" assessment of the Model 3. : )

The more generous owner/user will forgive or overlook the points of failure. I don't see any value is praising inferior design, especially now that we're seeing Ford, GM and RAM arriving with simply more thoroughly conceived and developed solutions to the same problems.

A pickup is a pickup because of its bed and its utility. Rivian came up with some ideas, some of which are novel and probably sell the product (the gear tunnel) and some are amusing on concept vehicles, but don't reach production for good reason. The gooseneck tailgate without a side-hinge and the unique latch points for the bespoke racks are two "textbook" examples of when to curtail the design ideal and prioritize utility, function, compatibility and serve the ownership experience.

The non-removable wing that obstructs the bed, and the hatch latch mechanisms that obscure the opening of the gear tunnel … neither of these designs should have stayed beyond the concept vehicle. The omission of washers for the cameras was surely argued back and forth during R&D, and the patently wrong decision was made.

Bollinger and Tesla vehicles were in public awareness during the development of the Rivian, I'd say the Rivian team either chose or were instructed to make an end, and prevented from finishing the job. Surely they would have taken all the best ideas from Bollinger and variously decided what was practical or applicable. Surely they would have set the functionality of a Tesla vehicle as the baseline requirement: anything the Rivian misses from the Tesla would have be justified as not necessary to sell the vehicle and deliver a solid ownership experience for early adopters. The obvious shortcomings vs. Tesla are range and charging efficiency, which stem from design (aero, rolling resistance) and engineering compromises (battery technology.) The R1T looked production ready at launch in 2018. It seems to me like Rivian made the (correct) decision to go to market asap some time in 2020 when they were meant to deliver the launch edition and they just kept cutting features and functions till they could build a production vehicle.

For me, the disappointments have been few (e.g. winch, tailgate, tonneau) but the dealbreaker is looking like Max Pack. I'm not selling my R1T any time soon, though it will probably be replaced by a EVlanche or Sierra (though it's a bit spendy for what it is) or maybe Ford will come along with its TE1 (next gen Lightning) and sufficient efficiency (range and charging curve) to function as a full size pickup for my porpoises. I still have an R1T and R1S pre-order pre-March pricing, those are both potentially worth taking delivery, if Rivian delivers on Max Pack, and if they sort out their business and service operations.

Not even a TE1 is going to fit your "porpoises" ?. ?

 

[Shaqdeez]

CP/AA is a Trojan horse play by Apple and Google to try to own the front end of the car experience, such that all hardware oems (ie car manufacturers) become commoditized and lowest to cost.

Clearly, Rivian and even Tesla are aware of this. They are not going to subject themselves to this. They want to be directly connected to their users via their own hardware and software package.

Traditional oems like Ford aren’t valued as or consider themselves as growth companies. And their strength is nowhere near software.

In short, Rivian is not going to implement CP/AA, for good reasons (even if you might disagree). Save your energy

Well said

 

[Dark-Fx]

Anything that's just a crap design (the gear tunnel hatch latch) is just a fail – making it properly would probably have cost time to rework.

I haven't pulled the latches off or looked at them closely but they strike me as an off-the-shelf design that's being repurposed. I actually like the loop being on the gear tunnel door as I occasionally will hook into that with my awning straps in situations where we are putting that up before opening the tent or don't have the bars on the roof of the cab. I'm not entirely sure what your expectations are for "making it properly"

 

[WSea]

I haven't pulled the latches off or looked at them closely but they strike me as an off-the-shelf design that's being repurposed. I actually like the loop being on the gear tunnel door as I occasionally will hook into that with my awning straps in situations where we are putting that up before opening the tent or don't have the bars on the roof of the cab. I'm not entirely sure what your expectations are for "making it properly"

Love the loop! Used numerous times to attach dog leashes with a carabiner while feeding them on roadtrip stops.

 

[EBEG]

This isn't exactly a feature to differentiate the R1, but the area between the front seats, especially on the floor and up to the dash, is poorly utilized. It is a rather large volume of space to hold a small storage console, a slide out drink holder and the camp speaker. I suppose the flat area between the footwells is nice for some uses, but there is little reachable storage from the driver's seat.

I think relocating the camp speaker (to the frunk?) is a start. The console could then be redesigned for cabin storage large enough to hold actual small bags (my wife's small purse can't fit in the console), better cup holders (it is an American vehicle, right?), maybe laptop space, and even another 110 outlet for charging larger items.

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I think relocating the camp speaker (to the

(snip)

Just joking ya. Although I am probably not the target audience for this product, LOL. ??

 

[EBEG]

(snip)

Just joking ya. Although I am probably not the target audience for this product, LOL. ??

My 17 year-old son likes the camp speaker, but I would rather save the $$!

 

[Dark-Fx]

better cup holders (it is an American vehicle, right?)

It sure is. I don't understand this obsession Americans have with cupholders when there are much more "elegant" solutions.

 

[EBEG]

It sure is. I don't understand this obsession Americans have with cupholders when there are much more "elegant" solutions.

Put a Rivian logo on it and it would be $125 in the gear shop, sold in the "hydration accessories" section.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Put a Rivian logo on it and it would be $125 in the gear shop, sold in the "hydration accessories" section.

Just make sure the colors only vaguely match the paint colors on the truck but use the same names and I'm sold.

 

[jakef801]

FWIW, I have Spotify Premium and dropped Sirius/XM and I'm enjoying the experience. I don't get all the hate on the Rivian Spotify app. It's been great for me and it syncs perfectly with what I do with Spotify on my phone, laptop, etc. Haven't used Tidal much, but when I was losing radio signal on my favorite sports channel in SLC, I found it on Tidal and it came through crystal clear. I couldn't care less about AA or CP. I'm an Android guy through and through and I never liked AA in my Audi and disabled it. Maybe (likely) there have been improvements and I'll try it again when I drive the Audi. However, it sure would be nice to get more than just a text alert tone and actually be able to have them audibly read and/or see them on screen. This is a big one for me.

 

[atebit]

Thank you for this.

- Someone who wants a future where all vehicle UX are not AA/CP, and all restaurants are not Taco Bell.

You’re just embarrassed because you don’t know how to use the three sea shells.

 

[the long way downunder]

I haven't pulled the latches off or looked at them closely but they strike me as an off-the-shelf design that's being repurposed. I actually like the loop being on the gear tunnel door as I occasionally will hook into that with my awning straps in situations where we are putting that up before opening the tent or don't have the bars on the roof of the cab. I'm not entirely sure what your expectations are for "making it properly"

They've used a convention striker/bale – this could have been necessitated by testing requirements. It might be quite an expensive process to certify a different latch mechanism for an opening. But look at the latch on the tailgate – not great, but it's recessed and doesn't obstruct the opening. The latch on the tunnel hatch is a significant obstruction to the shape of the tunnel.

 

[Dark-Fx]

They've used a convention striker/bale – this could have been necessitated by testing requirements. It might be quite an expensive process to certify a different latch mechanism for an opening. But look at the latch on the tailgate – not great, but it's recessed and doesn't obstruct the opening. The latch on the tunnel hatch is a significant obstruction to the shape of the tunnel.

Are you just talking about how the striker sits ever so slightly proud of the plastic used as the step? The internal mechanism would have to be moved out. Probably doable but I'm not so sure they could do it without having to redesign it. I'll look more closely at the bale sometime later.

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