New Delivery Delay Confirmed - My R1T Delivery Pushed From October to end of February, 2022.

[sevengroove]

What line are you referring to, the imaginary one you've had in your head or the official one that you're never been made privy to? I've made zero adjustment to my expectation of end of Spring.

I am well aware of their commitment to get LEs delivered by Spring 2022, and I don't have any imaginary lines in my mind that they have to hit. There's no need to get snarky here.

The order at which they get from point A to point B is irrelevant to me and will likely change many times. Here are several things that can/did transpire that will cause individual/regional timelines to change while not changing the timeline as a whole:

- Deliveries for now require local infrastructure, which relies on construction of the spaces.
- Local hiring and training to effectively handle the logistics of deliveries.
- State registrations?

All of these things are happening in multiple cities at once, each progressing on their own timeline and subject to things out of their control and possible delays. So the order in which they are complete by city/area could/probably has shifted. This is likely why they have not said which cities they will start with, because they didn't know the answer.

So, if you are in the same area as OP and with a similar config, and were optimistically assuming based on his guide interaction that you might receive yours in December, then yes you should change your expectations. Otherwise, I highly recommend anchoring to the worst case based on official communications and go from there.

Rivian cited "supply chain constraints" as the reason for OP's order being delayed. These constraints dictate how soon a vehicle can be built, not how soon it can be delivered once it's built. Supply chain constraints mean that they are not building enough of the R1Ts as they had anticipated, regardless of where they where slated to be delivered. If they had said something along the lines of "we might not have your service center up and running in time", or "we can't hire enough transport vehicles", then your argument makes sense. As it stands, it does not.

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[LaunchGreen]

I honestly don't get why this information is causing such a stir when it really doesn't apply to anyone other than the OP and it has been predictable for probably a month. While I can understand their disappointment, the reality is that this is just a sideshow to what is really going on and this doesn't represent a "delay" at all. I said as much just yesterday and was highly confident that none of the handful of non-employees (who were just a small test group for the Guide program by the way) would receive vehicles by the end of the year. It's been clear, and reaffirmed by the latest S1, that they were starting with employees and would move to non-employees after. Why anyone realistically thought after the latest S1 that someone on the forum would be getting a delivery in the near future is beyond me.

However, despite a handful of random estimates given to a select few people (who were never expected to share it to the world and create chaos), the plan has been to deliver the LE by end of Spring 2022. Literally nothing has changed and every piece of real information supports that is on track. As soon as they started reporting production numbers, nearly nothing else matters. Everything becomes very simple - they are either ramping production or they aren't. Production is on schedule to clear several thousand vehicles by the end of May (without even ramping faster than they are currently producing) absent an unforeseen backtrack or shutdown (which is still entirely possible).

This thread has taken a singular interaction and extrapolated it to apply to the entire production. It's even more astonishing that it happens on the heels of regular official updates on the production ramp that have been released, including just this week, which provided everything you need to know to manage expectations, which should not have changed for us as a whole. Like I said yesterday, the appropriate expectation at this point is that if you are LE, you'll receive it by end of Spring. When your Guide asks you to complete payment and provides you with your VIN, then and only then should you adjust your timeline up. If you are not LE, don't even think about it and check back in next Summer.

By the way, Rivian has NEVER committed to providing everyone an estimated delivery timeline by Thanksgiving. It is spreading false information like this which works people into a frenzy. They projected to have all LE holders receive contact from their Guide by Thanksgiving, nothing more. I, for one, expect that (if it happens) to be nothing more than a how do you do, nice to meet you. And that's fine, because I don't need anything else, I have what I need.

" Literally nothing has changed and every piece of real information supports that is on track."

We have our first denier on the thread. A month ago you would have said everything was on track for the October delivery as well.

" Rivian has NEVER committed to providing everyone an estimated delivery timeline by Thanksgiving"

The email and current website state: " All R1T and R1S Launch Edition preorder holders will hear from their Guide by the end of November with their expected delivery timing. "

A few other tidbits from an email addressed from RJ....

July email titled "Production Update" states:

" Earlier this summer, we announced that deliveries would begin in July; however, the timing for the first deliveries of the R1T has shifted to September, with the R1S shortly thereafter in the fall. I wanted to be sure you heard this from me directly. "

and

" I have spoken with a number of you and know we need to do a better job at communicating specifics around deliveries. Our Guides will continue reaching out to schedule deliveries and will be there for any questions throughout the process. "

and

" You’ll be hearing more from us over the coming weeks with additional updates and progress "

 

[kanundrum]

Understood, but this at least lowers the bar price wise for the second/third owner of the vehicle. I don't see there being any more/less waste either way. It will last just as long with lower voltage as with more.

They have said what the max charge rate is (something like 220kw), so that tells you what you need to know right?

Not 1000% they have a patent for parallel charging by allow battery packs to be split into 2 sections. I don't really know if they have implemented that, I am guessing they have not since they didn't tout it anywhere. If they say the max limit will be 220kw Ill have to believe that but any notion if it being 300kw+ has since gone and was updated int he S1 mentioning "FUTURE Vehicles".

 

[LaunchGreen]

What exactly are they supposed to mass communicate?

I am a mid-2020 non LE R1T order holder. I don’t have a date and haven’t been contacted by a guide. Are they supposed to email me and say, hey we’re delaying your delivery from [we never said] to [we don’t know]?

Almost every person here (with the exception of a tiny select few who have had guide contact) are in the same boat. There’s nothing to say to us because they never committed anything to any of us.

It’s amazing how many people really don’t understand how companies work. If half of the original order holders cancelled in mass today, Rivian would brush it right off because each of you would be quickly replaced by NEW demand pouring in. They are fine with this. The rate of new monthly signups is way up versus 2018 LA Auto Show.

Guess what happens post IPO when they can start advertising? Way more demand. Rivian doesn’t care if it sells a truck to a person who’s been waiting for three years or three days. It’s the same thing on the income statement. Pouting in a forum is oh so meaningless.

The simple fact is, they don’t have the trucks to sell today. So you can complain all you want. You can cancel. And yet demand will still far outstrip supply. That’s a great place to be. Ask Sony or Microsoft how the PS5/Xbox pandemic launches went for a clue of how Rivian views the world today…

You are correct than non-LE has not be promised expected delivery timing, but LE has. They still have 4 weeks though.

 

[Bumble1978]

Maybe this is one of the world's greatest Rick Rolls ever?!? ????

 

[jjswan33]

What exactly are they supposed to mass communicate?

I am a mid-2020 non LE R1T order holder. I don’t have a date and haven’t been contacted by a guide. Are they supposed to email me and say, hey we’re delaying your delivery from [we never said] to [we don’t know]?

Almost every person here (with the exception of a tiny select few who have had guide contact) are in the same boat. There’s nothing to say to us because they never committed anything to any of us.

It’s amazing how many people really don’t understand how companies work. If half of the original order holders cancelled in mass today, Rivian would brush it right off because each of you would be quickly replaced by NEW demand pouring in. They are fine with this. The rate of new monthly signups is way up versus 2018 LA Auto Show.

Guess what happens post IPO when they can start advertising? Way more demand. Rivian doesn’t care if it sells a truck to a person who’s been waiting for three years or three days. It’s the same thing on the income statement. Pouting in a forum is oh so meaningless.

The simple fact is, they don’t have the trucks to sell today. So you can complain all you want. You can cancel. And yet demand will still far outstrip supply. That’s a great place to be. Ask Sony or Microsoft how the PS5/Xbox pandemic launches went for a clue of how Rivian views the world today…

Wow. This is a pretty nonsense argument IMO, I am sure you will go on a rant based on history of your posts.

Bottom line is this, companies have a TAM (Total addressable market) they want to capture as much of that market as possible, if customers cancel and buy a competitor vehicle that is business they cannot recapture. Sure they may be capacity constrained and will be able to sell all the vehicles they make but I guarantee they don't want to lose orders.

 

[Dbeglor]

I am well aware of their commitment to get LEs delivered by Spring 2022, and I don't have any imaginary lines in my mind that they have to hit. There's no need to get snarky here.



Rivian cited "supply chain constraints" as the reason for OP's order being delayed. These constraints dictate how soon a vehicle can be built, not how soon it can be delivered once it's built. Supply chain constraints mean that they are not building enough of the R1Ts as they had anticipated, regardless of where they where slated to be delivered. If they had said something along the lines of "we might not have your service center up and running in time", or "we can't hire enough transport vehicles", then your argument makes sense. As it stands, it does not.

To clarify, the Guide stated supply chain constraints, not Rivian. Also, based on all the information, and as I've laid out, I don't think what the Guide was communicating was new information. I think it was dated information that they had just received authority to deliver to the customer.

I don't genuinely believe that new "supply chain constraints" materialized between filing the revised S1 on Monday and this guide communication last night. So, as such, nothing has changed that current production is sufficient to produce several thousand vehicles by the end of Spring - even if supply chain constrains prohibit them from increasing their rate at all.

So that's the operative question I think - do people believe that this information last night means that when we get the next S1 update or other production information, that their production will have slowed down? If that is the argument, then sure I think as a whole our expectations may need to be reined in. However, I don't think that's the case.

 

[Dbeglor]

You are correct than non-LE has not be promised expected delivery timing, but LE has. They still have 4 weeks though.

Stop spreading this false information. LE has never been promised delivery timing at an individual level, and at a total level, it is by end of Spring 2022.

 

[Diddy123]

" Literally nothing has changed and every piece of real information supports that is on track."

We have our first denier on the thread. A month ago you would have said everything was on track for the October delivery as well.

" Rivian has NEVER committed to providing everyone an estimated delivery timeline by Thanksgiving"

The email and current website state: " All R1T and R1S Launch Edition preorder holders will hear from their Guide by the end of November with their expected delivery timing. "

A few other tidbits from an email addressed from RJ....

July email titled "Production Update" states:

" Earlier this summer, we announced that deliveries would begin in July; however, the timing for the first deliveries of the R1T has shifted to September, with the R1S shortly thereafter in the fall. I wanted to be sure you heard this from me directly. "

and

" I have spoken with a number of you and know we need to do a better job at communicating specifics around deliveries. Our Guides will continue reaching out to schedule deliveries and will be there for any questions throughout the process. "

and

" You’ll be hearing more from us over the coming weeks with additional updates and progress "

Thank you for recapping this. The revisionist history by Rivian apologists is highly concerning.

We're told by these same people that we should only go off of official emails from Rivian. But then were also told that we shouldn't believe what we're told in these emails unless we are fools.

We're told that we're basing the conversation on nothing but conjecture. But we're also in a complete vacuum of real information at best, and a world of misinformation direct from the company at worst.

Everytime there's a poorly communicated or un-communicated delay, the apologists come up with a different excuse du jour, and tell us "what did you expect"? What I expect is the company to be straight forward with it's future customers. I can't believe this is a hard concept to fathom.

Today's excuse is Magnesium shortage, according to one member. That's not even a real thing yet, nor will it be for at least several months. (sometimes it pays off to read beyond the headline). Could it eventually become an issue? Absolutely. But it is certainly not the reason Godfodder didn't get his truck as expected. Nor is it the reason nobody told him about the delay until October had been eclipsed.

Covid is real. Supply chain issues are real. But last I checked, email was still functioning pretty well. An honest update from the company about customer deliveries, additional delays, and an apology sure would go a long way.

 

[Zoidz]

So that's the operative question I think - do people believe that this information last night means that when we get the next S1 update or other production information, that their production will have slowed down? If that is the argument, then sure I think as a whole our expectations may need to be reined in. However, I don't think that's the case.

My thought is that automotive got hit early, so they also got a head start on resolving issues. We see Ford and GM reporting that it is "getting better" (but certainly not over), so I'm with you that Rivian will probably be able to continue ramping up, not slowing down. But hey, who knows??

 

[stumptown85]

This blurb from the website says you’re wrong.

The email and current website state: " All R1T and R1S Launch Edition preorder holders will hear from their Guide by the end of November with their expected delivery timing. "

Stop spreading this false information. LE has never been promised delivery timing at an individual level, and at a total level, it is by end of Spring 2022.

 

[LoneStar]

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[Rivian_Hugh_III]

Wow, a 4-5+ month delay for their first non-employee deliveries? And only conveyed after their deadline? That's incredibly shitty of Rivian.

I don't get how it's shitty if you're expecting a part and it doesn't show up.

RJ mentioned in a recent interview something like the following, "It's incredibly humbling to be manufacturing a vehicle because you need every single part to be in place. You can't ship a vehicle with 99% of the parts. You need 100% of the parts."

He said it with perhaps half as many words as I gave above, but that was the gist.

Certainly Rivian would love to be delivering trucks immediately. But let's say in their ramp they recognize a pinch point that must be addressed. Addressing the pinch means retooling, and retooling means shifting out certain machinery and shifting in the correct machinery. Then calibrating it. Then training the person to work on it. Then getting it rolling, then tweaking the process.

And that's ONE pinch point.

Let's say motorized tonneau covers get jammed when there's rocky mud in the tracks. The motors they purchased are not strong enough to pull the covers closed and and pins in the tracks are degrading quickly. Now you need new motors and new pins... from China... which will arrive on cargo ships... God knows when.

And that's just ONE OTHER pinch point.

There are surely hundreds of these things cropping up. Plus they're hiring for nearly 1,500 positions right now, which means these things can't be addressed as well as they might.

What do you folks want?

RIVIAN PRESS RELEASE

(Plymouth, MI) Rivian today announced that it sucks ass to create a vehicle from scratch. They have identified the following 237 issues in manufacturing that include lots of scary things that will make you not want to buy the vehicle if you hear there are concerns, even though they are literally identifying them and fixing them. RJ, the CEO, was quoted as saying, "We weren't going to mention all these things, because, you know, we're literally working at all hours of the day, every day, to address them and create a sublime EV that supersedes all expectations, but since some folks on a Rivian forum feel they're not getting enough attention we decided to hell with it. So here's all our dirty laundry (below), including every misstep, learning, excuse, and act of fate that have caused us to delay one of the most difficult things any human organization has ever done, namely to initiate mass-production of a complex technical marvel on a vast scale from literally nothing."

 

[Riventures]

Understood, but this at least lowers the bar price wise for the second/third owner of the vehicle. I don't see there being any more/less waste either way. It will last just as long with lower voltage as with more.

I am with @kanundrum on this. The perceived value of the R1 will be lower (I suspect, far lower) in the used car market with its current architecture. Rivian could have chosen to use the 900-volt architecture and they did not, or possible could not. Compared to the competition in 3-5 years, value of R1 will be lower. Since they had a clean sheet design start, and had the same time in hand as Lucid, they should have engineered it better. The big difference between Rivian and Lucid is that Lucid has real international pro-level EV racing experience and knowledge. Rivian has no such engineering expertise when it comes to battery design and management, they are building that knowledge base.

Ok, but why should I care? ...I want one thing and one thing only from a car company - produce a good vehicle and be there afterword if I have issues. ... Why do people feel entitled to hand holding and transparency into the inner workings of a private startup? It's none of your business.

I was in the same opinion when I first joined these forums. The part you are missing, I think, is that many people here have been part of the journey for much longer time than we have been. The frustrations build up over time with missed promises. You may change your tune in six months.

People have the right to feel a level of 'entitlement.' They got into a good-faith business arrangement by listening to Rivian and putting their hard-earned money into its 'story.' The first chapter of the story has to end at some point, but it is being re-written without much light at the end of the tunnel.

On top of it, Rivian comes out and says "we will be gracious enough to give you the opportunity to invest in our company." Ummm... yes, sure?!, where is the first chapter? That is becoming a tough sell.

 

[jjswan33]

Stop spreading this false information. LE has never been promised delivery timing at an individual level, and at a total level, it is by end of Spring 2022.

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