indy360
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- #1
Looking at the cottage industry that has come into existence in the three short years since Rivian delivered their first vehicle, I feel that there is a strong demand for tailored accessories for people's trucks/SUVs. In fact, I'd say one of the biggest draws that created so much excitement for Rivian initially was the camp kitchen that never came to be. It was the ultimate customized accessory.
I feel that having a set of customizable things and gizmos that are tailored to your vehicle feels like another form of luxury that was previously only attainable for vehicles over $200k. Given that, I think it would behoove Rivian to now start to seriously think about standardizing hook up points, floor and storage dimension, etc., across all their current and future vehicles. Modularity and the ability for all the accessories to fit just perfectly is a very powerful and emotionally satisfying draw that is part of most people's instinct. Just look at how obsessive the overlanding industry and their customers are with getting the "perfect" setup.
No manufacturer so far has really put an emphasis to creating and advertising their vehicle's long term development potential for third party customization. With Rivian's philosophy of creating life-style, off-road, go anywhere do anything vehicles, they really should focus on that as a selling point. I was hoping that at the R2 reveal they would come up with something like that but that didn't seem to the part of the plan.
What I imagine is a series of standardized spaces that are specifically shaped to be able to accommodate either popular existing products (Yeti coolers, etc), or more likely Rivian designed products manufactured by third party. Basically, the same cooler/storage box/modular kitchen/refrigerator/water container/etc can perfectly fit either in the rear space (bed/trunk), gear tunnel, or the frunk. They can be molded to have corresponding attachment points on the vehicle and can be placed individually at various places without sliding around. That would be the starting point of a whole ecosystem of third party accessories sort of like the App Store of a phone as long as Rivian promises to keep those standards long term. It would be cheap to implement and really set Rivian apart from other manufacturers. Imagine when they release the Amazon truck to the general public as a Sprinter competitor. Existing users with multiple Rivian vehicles can just use the same accessories from one vehicle to another and have it fit perfectly. It will generate a lot of ecosystem advantage. Not only that, it will encourage people to see their vehicle as a long term possession, which is good for the environment. For those who lease, it will also encourage them to stay with Rivian because they have already invested so much in their accessories.
I feel that having a set of customizable things and gizmos that are tailored to your vehicle feels like another form of luxury that was previously only attainable for vehicles over $200k. Given that, I think it would behoove Rivian to now start to seriously think about standardizing hook up points, floor and storage dimension, etc., across all their current and future vehicles. Modularity and the ability for all the accessories to fit just perfectly is a very powerful and emotionally satisfying draw that is part of most people's instinct. Just look at how obsessive the overlanding industry and their customers are with getting the "perfect" setup.
No manufacturer so far has really put an emphasis to creating and advertising their vehicle's long term development potential for third party customization. With Rivian's philosophy of creating life-style, off-road, go anywhere do anything vehicles, they really should focus on that as a selling point. I was hoping that at the R2 reveal they would come up with something like that but that didn't seem to the part of the plan.
What I imagine is a series of standardized spaces that are specifically shaped to be able to accommodate either popular existing products (Yeti coolers, etc), or more likely Rivian designed products manufactured by third party. Basically, the same cooler/storage box/modular kitchen/refrigerator/water container/etc can perfectly fit either in the rear space (bed/trunk), gear tunnel, or the frunk. They can be molded to have corresponding attachment points on the vehicle and can be placed individually at various places without sliding around. That would be the starting point of a whole ecosystem of third party accessories sort of like the App Store of a phone as long as Rivian promises to keep those standards long term. It would be cheap to implement and really set Rivian apart from other manufacturers. Imagine when they release the Amazon truck to the general public as a Sprinter competitor. Existing users with multiple Rivian vehicles can just use the same accessories from one vehicle to another and have it fit perfectly. It will generate a lot of ecosystem advantage. Not only that, it will encourage people to see their vehicle as a long term possession, which is good for the environment. For those who lease, it will also encourage them to stay with Rivian because they have already invested so much in their accessories.
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