WTH is up w/ R1S Delivery Prioritization!?

[R1Tom]

I wonder when Rivian will move forward, if ever, with a system where a new order is configured and entered into the production system, and then built when the appropriate components (assuming order comes from within 2 hours of a service center) are available and then delivered? Like how the last many of my vehicles were handled by various manufacturers (except the 2 hours from a service center part).

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[Steve A.]

I read your posts. You are all over the place saying you DO understand there are multiple factors but disregarding all of but the one you are upset about….

. I never said there weren’t additional factors. In fact I was attempting to point this out to you since you are laser focused on this ONE factor. So while you are rereading you might do that yourself.

You kept including assumptions that you have no evidence for to support your point, like saying Rivian has no “process”. Then you proceeded to actually link to a support article that pointed out the many factors of their “process” as if it helped your case

Since you are such a math/ engineering/ computer science whiz you might use some of those skills to calculate what 1/6 comes out to?

Nice try at the misquote, but for the record I said *SEEMINGLY* no process.

And, yes I did look at those 6 factors.

1. Delivery Location: SAME SERVICE CENTER area.
2. Configuration: SAME except for wheels and skid plate which Rivian support said my choices were most popular.
3. Preorder date: mine was 3 months earlier than his.
4. Batching production: SAME exterior and interior which is the MAJOR batching factor from what Rivian has mentioned on several occasions; sure wheels and skid plate are minor factors but again, if it was known, then I would have changed my configuration.
5. Supply availability: Again, per the Rivian support person, 20" AT wheels and skid plate is most popular.
6. Shifts in customer preference: I have NOT changed my configuration where he did 6 weeks ago.

So, yeah using math, logic, and reason, ANYONE would not expect #3 above to be outweighed by wheels and skid plate differences.

 

[Steve A.]

I wonder when Rivian will move forward, if ever, with a system where a new order is configured and entered into the production system, and then built when the appropriate components (assuming order comes from within 2 hours of a service center) are available and then delivered? Like how the last many of my vehicles were handled by various manufacturers (except the 2 hours from a service center part).

So apparently the 2 hours from a service center is either a myth or no longer a factor, since I asked the Brooklyn SC guy about that and he acted like he had never heard of such a thing, and he said they DEFINITELY deliver well over 2 hours away.

 

[Christopher]

I have an identical configuration as to the vehicle you're comparing to (Midnight, 22" Sport Darks, Black Interior, no underbody shield) and I pre-ordered a year after you and I'm taking delivery next week

 

[SANZC02]

Why are people arguing with someone that can make this statement

“His configuration:

• Identical to mine above except 22" Sport Dark and NO Reinforced Underbody Shield”

obviously he is 100% correct… well except where he isn’t…

 

[diehlryan]

I have an identical configuration as to the vehicle you're comparing to (Midnight, 22" Sport Darks, Black Interior, no underbody shield) and I pre-ordered a year after you and I'm taking delivery next week

Congrats! You're going to love it. Go order an R1T now so you can drive both. Its amazing how differently they drive. I jump in the wife's S all of the time for short errands.

 

[diehlryan]

Why are people arguing with someone that can make this statement

“His configuration:

• Identical to mine above except 22" Sport Dark and NO Reinforced Underbody Shield”

obviously he is 100% correct… well except where he isn’t…

Agreed. ITS THE SAME CONFIG except for..... lol.

 

[Christopher]

Congrats! You're going to love it. Go order an R1T now so you can drive both. Its amazing how differently they drive. I jump in the wife's S all of the time for short errands.

Thanks! Actually, already have an R1T. Can't wait to see how different they drive!

 

[SoCal Rob]

Nice try at the misquote, but for the record I said *SEEMINGLY* no process.

And, yes I did look at those 6 factors.

1. Delivery Location: SAME SERVICE CENTER area.
2. Configuration: SAME except for wheels and skid plate which Rivian support said my choices were most popular.
3. Preorder date: mine was 3 months earlier than his.
4. Batching production: SAME exterior and interior which is the MAJOR batching factor from what Rivian has mentioned on several occasions; sure wheels and skid plate are minor factors but again, if it was known, then I would have changed my configuration.
5. Supply availability: Again, per the Rivian support person, 20" AT wheels and skid plate is most popular.
6. Shifts in customer preference: I have NOT changed my configuration where he did 6 weeks ago.

So, yeah using math, logic, and reason, ANYONE would not expect #3 above to be outweighed by wheels and skid plate differences.

I’m not defending Rivian’s seemingly-random fulfillment, but I do think this whole process is complex. For perspective, I reserved in April of 2021, we have land that can only be accessed by a high-clearance vehicle, and our 2006 Land Rover now has over 248,000 miles. The good news is that it lets me know how happy it is with a cheerful amber engine-shaped light on the instrument cluster. I need a replacement vehicle but that isn’t a Rivian problem; that’s a me problem.

Anyway, regarding your item 2, “Configuration: SAME except for wheels and skid plate which Rivian support said my choices were most popular.”

This is not necessarily a good thing. Imagine, even if Rivian prioritized reservation date ahead of everything else and there are 20 vehicles reserved before yours with the same popular wheel and skid plate config but there are only 2 vehicles reserved before your friend with the less popular config. Now, let’s say Rivian builds 15 popular configs and only 2 not-so-popular config. If 1 customer in each batch cancels you move up one slot and still don’t have a vehicle, while your friend moves up one slot and does.

This is just one scenario I can envision, and that applies while only taking 2 factors into account. Add other factors and it gets more complex/messier. Maybe they did make too many of your config, but they all ended up at service centers too far from you to be matched with them.

I’m not giving Rivian a pass, but I, an IT guy with no manufacturing experience, can picture ways the various factors work for some people and against others today, but may work differently in the future. I’m just glad I’m not the one responsible for juggling all this!

I’m increasingly nervous about not having the type of vehicle I need, but I’m trying to remain philosophical and look for the positives. Like the longer I have to wait the longer they have to improve build quality.

edit: typo

 

[COdogman]

Nice try at the misquote, but for the record I said *SEEMINGLY* no process.

And, yes I did look at those 6 factors.

1. Delivery Location: SAME SERVICE CENTER area.
2. Configuration: SAME except for wheels and skid plate which Rivian support said my choices were most popular.
3. Preorder date: mine was 3 months earlier than his.
4. Batching production: SAME exterior and interior which is the MAJOR batching factor from what Rivian has mentioned on several occasions; sure wheels and skid plate are minor factors but again, if it was known, then I would have changed my configuration.
5. Supply availability: Again, per the Rivian support person, 20" AT wheels and skid plate is most popular.
6. Shifts in customer preference: I have NOT changed my configuration where he did 6 weeks ago.

So, yeah using math, logic, and reason, ANYONE would not expect #3 above to be outweighed by wheels and skid plate differences.

The point is you have no idea when and how much each factor plays a role in delivery date (Right?). Each factor could affect a single order in many different ways at different times.

If you were using “reason” you would not be here complaining about it. It just seems like you’re a little jelly Your coworker received his truck before you.

 

[Steve A.]

I have an identical configuration as to the vehicle you're comparing to (Midnight, 22" Sport Darks, Black Interior, no underbody shield) and I pre-ordered a year after you and I'm taking delivery next week

HaHa I won't be baited. ;-)

 

[Steve A.]

I’m not defending Rivian’s seemingly-random fulfillment, but I do think this whole process is complex. For perspective, I reserved in April of 2021, we have land that can only be accessed by a high-clearance vehicle, and our 2006 Land Rover now has over 248,000 miles. The good news is that it lets me know how happy it is with a cheerful amber engine-shaped light on the instrument cluster. I need a replacement vehicle but that isn’t a Rivian problem; that’s a me problem.

Anyway, regarding your item 2, “Configuration: SAME except for wheels and skid plate which Rivian support said my choices were most popular.”

This is not necessarily a good thing. Imagine, even if Rivian prioritized reservation date ahead of everything else and there are 20 vehicles reserved before yours with the same popular wheel and skid plate config but there are only 2 vehicles reserved before your friend with the less popular config. Now, let’s say Rivian builds 15 popular configs and only 2 not-so-popular config. If 1 customer in each batch cancels you move up one slot and still don’t have a vehicle, while your friend moves up one slot and does.

This is just one scenario I can envision, and that applies while only taking 2 factors into account. Add other factors and it gets more complex/messier. Maybe they did make too many of your config, but they all ended up at service centers too far from you to be matched with them.

I’m not giving Rivian a pass, but I, an IT guy with no manufacturing experience, can picture ways the various factors work for some people and against others today, but may work differently in the future. I’m just glad I’m not the one responsible for juggling all this!

I’m increasingly nervous about not having the type of vehicle I need, but I’m trying to remain philosophical and look for the positives. Like the longer I have to wait the longer they have to improve build quality.

edit: typo

Again, if Rivian would provide SOME guidance on supply chain shortages, I would have definitely switched my wheels and skid plate and let the configuration thrashing dooms day scenarios fall where they may.

 

[Steve A.]

The point is you have no idea when and how much each factor plays a role in delivery date (Right?). Each factor could affect a single order in many different ways at different times.

If you were using “reason” you would not be here complaining about it. It just seems like you’re a little jelly Your coworker received his truck before you.

Believe it or not, someone can be pissed at Rivian yet happy for EVERYONE else who gotten theirs delivered.

Sure. It could have been a wild coincidence that someone else ordered the exact configuration that he changed his to the day he went to the Brooklyn SC and then went from July-Sept delivery window to being assigned a guide and getting delivery 3 weeks later, but then there's Occam's razor.

 

[COdogman]

Believe it or not, someone can be pissed at Rivian yet happy for EVERYONE else who gotten theirs delivered.

Sure. It could have been a wild coincidence that someone else ordered the exact configuration that he changed his to the day he went to the Brooklyn SC and then went from July-Sept delivery window to being assigned a guide and getting delivery 3 weeks later, but then there's Occam's razor.

Yes, you sound very happy about everyone else getting their vehicles. Your posts mention that so often…

 

[SoCal Rob]

Again, if Rivian would provide SOME guidance on supply chain shortages, I would have definitely switched my wheels and skid plate and let the configuration thrashing dooms day scenarios fall where they may.

You would’ve… and a bunch of others probably would’ve, too. The end result would almost certainly be more difficult for Rivian to manage and still have too many customers unhappy.

Imagine the chaos as people change from a popular config (which Rivian finally has supplies for due s00n) to an unpopular config. How do you do production planning when people are moving en mass from one config to another in attempt to speed up delivery… while moving the delay from one config to another?

If anything, Rivian probably should have made the Launch Editions all one color combo, with the reinforced underbody shield, and with a choice of wheel/tire packages. After all of the nearly-identical LEs got delivered to eligible people in near-chronological order, they could’ve moved on to quick ship Adventure configs which got batched based upon parts availability. Finally, Rivian could act like an established manufacturer and build-to-order.

I don’t think they went far enough, but something tells me that eliminating the Explore trim, forbidding certain color combos, and ditching the 5-seat R1S were all related to simplifying the number of build configs.

I think they have an admirable assortment of exterior and interior colors, but with years of supply chain issues, starting off this way probably makes it unnecessarily difficult for them… and for those of us waiting.

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