? Update from RJ on production & deliveries -- via email letter 12/28/21

[EVTrukHog]

Cost wasn’t it for me. It was just that it was certain to add an extra 12 months to order. I was honestly hoping they would do max first as that would be my preference but oh well.

Was

For me, the Max Pack was a bit of overkill and extra weight I don’t want or need. On top of that, the $10,000 was a deterrent as well. There will always be those times that range anxiety will hit me, but I can live with that. Like most, the vast majority of my charging will take place at home and range will never be an issue. For those long road trips, I believe charging stations will be as ubiquitous as gas stations in the near future. While they won't be as plentiful, I believe they'll be in enough locations to allow anxiety-free movement about the country.

Do we know how much additional weight the Max Pack is adding? Do we expect it to consume usable space (under seat storage?) from the Large Pack models? I'm having Max Pack second thoughts...

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[DuckTruck]

Was


Do we know how much additional weight the Max Pack is adding? Do we expect it to consume usable space (under seat storage?) from the Large Pack models? I'm having Max Pack second thoughts...

When asked that, RJ thought about it for a few seconds, and then said the extra 45 kwh should add about 300 to 350 pound. That was in response to a question in a casual setting, so I'm not sure if he'd revise that now. I don't know if that same amount needs to be subtracted from available payload or not, but I think we've heard the storage area under the back seat of the R1T will go away with the Max Pack.

I hope that addresses what you're looking to find.

 

[Tango45]

November 2020 pre-order, R1S LE, DC metro area, delivery estimate of July-September 2022. We originally sold our second vehicle early in the pandemic since we expected to have the Rivian before we needed to get back into the office. There's been some challenges with a family of four with just one car, but we're at the point of "well, we made it this far, might as well hold out until the R1S gets delivered next year." I'm actually entertaining some hope that these delivery estimates are conservative and they'll actually beat them or deliver at the front end of the window. Not putting money on that possibility, just thinking optimistically. In the end, we've adopted an attitude of "inshallah", as we used to say overseas...

Apparently there's already an R1T roaming around Arlington, VA. If I catch them, I'll be sure to get my First Mile test drive...

 

[Acon]

My biggest surprise in RJ email was that only 20% of pre-orders were Max Pack. Was the additional $10K a deterrent? Majority thinks this is not a good value for extra capacity? ...or most just don't need the additional capacity?

There are few places where 300+ mile range would be useful for me, and when I do take a trip, its generally ~500 miles - so I'd have to charge midway either way. Just not a useful expenditure for me.

 

[ads75]

My biggest surprise in RJ email was that only 20% of pre-orders were Max Pack. Was the additional $10K a deterrent? Majority thinks this is not a good value for extra capacity? ...or most just don't need the additional capacity?

I looked at what the vast of my majority of my driving is. I have played with ABRP for all the trips I did the last few years, although I know can't be terribly accurate because the R1T is new. I live in south eastern Pennsylvania. My work commute is 35 miles each way, and I can charge at work. A few times a year I visit family (in NJ/NY) that is about 125 miles each way/250 round trip, and looking at ABRP there are EA chargers in between, among other brands. Sure the max pack would probably allow to do the trip and return home in a day without stopping, but it didn't seem worth thousands of dollars a year to save 10-20 minutes on days I make those trips, assuming I keep it for 4-5 years. I also don't plan on towing. And looking at some older "range is king" doomsayer posts, where people say range is cut down by up to 40% due to winter/cold/rain/hills/not enough cupholders, posts where people thought you absolutely had to have the max pack, I thought spending $10k for an effective 50ish mile range increase seemed even less worth it to me, for something I may only "need" (or actually notice) a few times a year. Over the last 5 years, the longest road trip I made without stopping overnight was about 400 miles. I also don't have kids that may need to be entertained/annoyed when stopping to charge. I know some make the argument that you get the money back when you trade in/sell, but someone will probably only get a percentage of that back, a large pack R1T or max pack R1T will probably be worth about the same percentage of their original MSRP in 5 years. I am a Q4 2022 projected delivery, so if I change my mind and go max pack due to real world reviews, it may not change my delivery by much. For now, I also plan on keeping my 2019 2 door Wrangler, which has about a 300 mile gas range, as another option, if needed, but 2 door soft top Wranglers aren't exactly great road trip vehicles either.

 

[sierraskier]

This indicates that you have the opportunity to do just that:

"To Max pack and Explore preorder holders who have been with us since 2018 and 2019 whose delivery windows may push into 2023 — we value your loyalty and commitment and will be reaching out to you in January to gauge your interest in reconfiguring to an Adventure Package with Large pack battery so that you can take delivery in 2022."

Very disappointing. For the first few YEARS there wasn't even a Large Pack - all range specs promised were Max Pack specs, and were a key differentiating feature for Rivian. Then, even after Large Packs were introduced, the company continued to communicate that Max Pack would be prioritized as the first product delivered.

Now the complete pivot away from what was the original Rivian configuration, promised range, and a key factor in my decision to commit to Rivian. For early reservation R1T holders, Rivian should be providing the ability to purchase a Large Pack R1T according to their original order date AS WELL AS keeping the original Max Pack R1T reservation at no additional cost.

 

[sierraskier]

Now we know why the S1 filing said pre-orders would be done by the "End of 2023".

Communication could have been better, and much sooner, but at least they're heading in the right direction that that front. I'm really looking forward to seeing what they do with the account page next month. I want to see if changing from Green to Blue or White will speed things up. Or perhaps removing certain items like the off road upgrade.

I'm really looking forward to the delivery email.

The big question is, with the inconsistency in communication and numerous changes so far, what level of confidence do you have that whatever the website says will even hold true?

 

[sierraskier]

It was never rational to expect that the max pack would start in early 2022

It was never rational to expect something that a company who took your money promised you?

 

[GTodd]

MAX Pack - why? I understand range anxiety, but $10k is a huge premium for ~114 miles. For the few road trips you take you can fly, rent a car, or deal with the charging for a lot less. Most of us will only own this for 3-5 years, and better technology will be out by then. Unless you are doing a lot of towing I don't see where the MAX pack makes sense. Just my thoughts.

 

[E.S.]

I've been in this for 2.5 years now, I'm still committed to the vehicle, but it is getting frustrating watching the finish line getting no closer to me than it was when I originally ordered.

To be honest, as much as people do not want to be, this the norm of a product high in demand from a company this short into their production phase. Have to remember, Rivian started taking funds from people roughly 3-4 years ago, and only started producing stuff 3 months ago. To expect them to be at a capacity 1/2 of what legacy automakers are at is ludicrous at this point in time. A 2-3 year wait on a battery they haven't even begun to extensively get EPA'd yet all while trying to met current demands is nothing. Just got to have patience regarding the matter. If people are going to be impulsive, this isn't the product for them ...

So people, a LOT less of this

 

[sierraskier]

MAX Pack - why? I understand range anxiety, but $10k is a huge premium for ~114 miles. For the few road trips you take you can fly, rent a car, or deal with the charging for a lot less. Most of us will only own this for 3-5 years, and better technology will be out by then. Unless you are doing a lot of towing I don't see where the MAX pack makes sense. Just my thoughts.

If you think of yourself winter driving in the mountains where the temp doesn't get much above freezing for long periods of time (months) it will suddenly make sense.

EDIT:

or see this post/thread

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...roof-box-low-temperatures-etc.3192/post-87079

 

[ja_kub_sz]

When asked that, RJ thought about it for a few seconds, and then said the extra 45 kwh should add about 300 to 350 pound. That was in response to a question in a casual setting, so I'm not sure if he'd revise that now. I don't know if that same amount needs to be subtracted from available payload or not, but I think we've heard the storage area under the back seat of the R1T will go away with the Max Pack.

I hope that addresses what you're looking to find.

That's kind of a downer. All that's in the missing two battery pack of the large pack is wiring. I would really hope to keep the storage.

Interesting though... Is that why the under seat storage is part of the frame?

 

[Rhidan]

It was never rational to expect something that a company who took your money promised you?

Yes, when they announced that LE would not start delivery in June 2021, it was not rational to expect non-LE deliveries to still be made in January 2022.

As far as what Rivian ”promises” you, this is what the pre-order agreement states:

[W]e are under no obligation to supply you with a Vehicle.

These Terms do not constitute an agreement for the sale of a Vehicle and do not lock in pricing, a firm production slot, a firm delivery date, or specific Vehicle configuration. . . .

You are preordering a Vehicle without specifying the model, features, and options. We will endeavor to produce Your Selected Vehicle in the future and your priority will be set by the date of payment of your Preorder Fee, our manufacturing schedule, our delivery and service operations availability and execution of the Final Sales Agreement. There is no guarantee as to delivery date based on your Preorder.

 

[crashmtb]

That's kind of a downer. All that's in the missing two battery pack of the large pack is wiring. I would really hope to keep the storage.

Interesting though... Is that why the under seat storage is part of the frame?

It does not take up the underseat storage, it fills in the rest of the space in the frame. The pack just grows in length with the addition of a few modules.

If the storage under the rear seats was to be taken up by battery, the subwoofer for the stereo would also be displaced.

 

[DuckTruck]

It does not take up the underseat storage, it fills in the rest of the space in the frame. The pack just grows in length with the addition of a few modules.

If the storage under the rear seats was to be taken up by battery, the subwoofer for the stereo would also be displaced.

I hope you're right, but at one point, the underseat storage was to be displaced by the battery. The subwoofer had nothing to do with it. I believe it remained where it currently sits.

I hope we find the answer "in the near future".

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