Rivian to lay off 600+ workers / 4% workforce (Oct 23, 2025 report)

[Dark-Fx]

Been a lurker and on the list for a R2. But stories about people who love their cars but are afraid of owning them past 50-75k miles scare me. I'm used to Hondas and Toyotas that go 150k+ miles with no unexpected repairs - so that's my expectations. Worried....

Rivian attracted a lot of buyers who have never bought a very expensive vehicle before. Expensive vehicles tend to have expensive repairs.

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[VandalSibs]

Just heard BMW in Germany alone got 3k orders for the new iX3 this number blew away internal expectations according to BMW executives. The competition is going to be crazy when the R2 is out, especially the programs legacy brands will offer. The ix3 will be priced at $60k for DM 425+ miles of range and probably lease at about $600-$700 range. I love everything about the Rivian brand but if the pricing is not right on the R2 I don't see a future.

How many of those 3k orders are in the US? Are those international numbers?

Right now, R2 is a North America-only product, so let's be sure to compare apples to apples here. Rivian has over 200k reservations for R2, and even at a 5% conversion rate, that's 10,000 vehicles sold. Personally, I think the conversion rate will be a bit higher than that....

 

[VandalSibs]

Been a lurker and on the list for a R2. But stories about people who love their cars but are afraid of owning them past 50-75k miles scare me. I'm used to Hondas and Toyotas that go 150k+ miles with no unexpected repairs - so that's my expectations. Worried....

Repair costs are going up for all vehicles, not just EVs/expensive ones.

 

[RivAW]

How much does $7500 make a difference on a lease payment when at the R1 price points? Not saying it doesn't affect sales but just curious.

Every $1k on a 36 month lease is roughly $28 per month, so that $7500 is roughly with $210/month on a 36 month lease.....

 

[savethemanual]

The mid-size EV SUV market is looking good for us buyers! Rivian knows they need to bring their A game, can't wait!

 

[BigSkies]

Been a lurker and on the list for a R2. But stories about people who love their cars but are afraid of owning them past 50-75k miles scare me. I'm used to Hondas and Toyotas that go 150k+ miles with no unexpected repairs - so that's my expectations. Worried....

Everyone has their own thresholds of what they worry about. While I get why people are worried, I personally think it's overblown.

Things that fail usually do so for two reasons:

1. Manufacturing defect.
2. End-of-life failure

Manufacturing defects usually become apparent in the first year or couple thousand miles of ownership. This will be in the warranty period. While it's inevitable some things pop up outside the warranty window, these will be relatively rare compared with the things found in early ownership.

End-of-life failures vary by part. Tires last 20k miles on these Rivians (at least the OG 21" Pirelli's). Brake pads last a certain amount of time. Most other mechanical components probably have that ~150k / 10yr+ life. But we won't really know until these things get older. My biggest worry is the air/hydraulic suspension system. There will be a point where those various rubber gaskets,connectors, and miscellaneous components start to fail. I'd have to take a guess that those are ~10yr wear components, but that's complete speculation.

 

[CO-rayman]

It's always sad to see layoffs by one of your favorite companies. I sold my R1T for personal reasons and would have kept it if I could, but Rivian's trajectory is not reassuring.

The more I hear about suspension issues (which is not surprising by the way with the heavy weight of these trucks), the more I am concerned with the trajectory.

If R2 is a dud because of whatever (market, price, quality, lack of features, etc.), Rivian won't have a prayer.

Earlier this year, I would have thought that VW would keep backing Rivian for its tech or the Scout project, but now that the German manufacturers are getting their tech from Chinese companies, that option is not as viable either.

And, what's up with the Rivian leadership advertising bikes more than their cars on Instagram? Does RJ really think an e-bike should be the marketing priority these days?

Sorry, but not feeling as positive about Rivian any more.

 

[CO-rayman]

Everyone has their own thresholds of what they worry about. While I get why people are worried, I personally think it's overblown.

Things that fail usually do so for two reasons:

1. Manufacturing defect.
2. End-of-life failure

Manufacturing defects usually become apparent in the first year or couple thousand miles of ownership. This will be in the warranty period. While it's inevitable some things pop up outside the warranty window, these will be relatively rare compared with the things found in early ownership.

End-of-life failures vary by part. Tires last 20k miles on these Rivians (at least the OG 21" Pirelli's). Brake pads last a certain amount of time. Most other mechanical components probably have that ~150k / 10yr+ life. But we won't really know until these things get older. My biggest worry is the air/hydraulic suspension system. There will be a point where those various rubber gaskets,connectors, and miscellaneous components start to fail. I'd have to take a guess that those are ~10yr wear components, but that's complete speculation.

I used to be a fan of Toyotas for reliability, but there are plenty of recent reports about total engine failures in their 2022 onward V6 engines. Debris from manufacturing process causes total engine failure basically.

There are also videos online that Toyota is not standing behind their products like before. See this

 

[Kunzene]

Looking at EV6’s for a family member. Would you buy Kia again?

A little off topic but our EV9 has had zero problems, approaching 2 years and 35k miles. UI is still terrible and my Rivian is much more fun to drive. But it’s been a solid vehicle for us.
I feel like I got a bad draw in the Rivian lottery and a good draw in the Kia lottery. I haven’t posted about it in detail but my truck has been problematic from the beginning. This would be my second replacement for failing front dampers, along with replaced rear drive unit, most air suspension components, ASM module, subframe, and HV battery this summer. If I thought I was just facing a one-time expensive repair bill I would probably bite the bullet, but based on my history I think it would be a lot of continued expense out of warranty. Mostly just makes me sad. I love the truck.

 

[iansriv]

Just heard BMW in Germany alone got 3k orders for the new iX3 this number blew away internal expectations according to BMW executives. The competition is going to be crazy when the R2 is out, especially the programs legacy brands will offer. The ix3 will be priced at $60k for DM 425+ miles of range and probably lease at about $600-$700 range. I love everything about the Rivian brand but if the pricing is not right on the R2 I don't see a future.

I've owned a couple of BMWs in the past. Good cars. The issue is name recognition. Ask any random stranger if they heard of BMW and then Rivian. I'm not a marketing expert but the current marketing is not great. Perhaps they have so many R2 pre-orders they dont need it.

 

[savethemanual]

All OEMs, including Ford, GM, have announced they’ll be significantly pulling back from their EV investments, because the climate for EVs isn’t suitable for growth.

It's suitable for growth and the market is showing that, but not at the breakneck pace they originally projected.

 

[mkhuffman]

I've owned a couple of BMWs in the past. Good cars. The issue is name recognition. Ask any random stranger if they heard of BMW and then Rivian. I'm not a marketing expert but the current marketing is not great. Perhaps they have so many R2 pre-orders they dont need it.

Did you know that Rivian makes a battery powered bicycle?

 

[VandalSibs]

It's suitable for growth and the market is showing that, but not at the breakneck pace they originally projected.

This! This this this this this!

It is the corporate obsession impossible constant, if not exponential growth that has messed up how companies actually plan for things. Legacy manufacturers all assumed they could have the insane growth that Tesla went thru (although this "line goes up" thinking isn't limited to automobiles) causes them to freak out and overreact when things grow, but not as fast as they falsely assumed.

 

[savethemanual]

This! This this this this this!

It is the corporate obsession impossible constant, if not exponential growth that has messed up how companies actually plan for things. Legacy manufacturers all assumed they could have the insane growth that Tesla went thru (although this "line goes up" thinking isn't limited to automobiles) causes them to freak out and overreact when things grow, but not as fast as they falsely assumed.

 

[mkhuffman]

All OEMs, including Ford, GM, have announced they’ll be significantly pulling back from their EV investments, because the climate for EVs isn’t suitable for growth.

I am married to someone who makes her own decisions regarding what she drives, and politicians are not going to change her mind. She has no interest in driving a BEV, regardless of what I say (or what her favorite politicians say). I am constantly trying to convince her of the benefits, and she just smiles at me, or rolls her eyes.

The fact is she isn't ready. And in reality, BEVs are not ready for mass adoption. Forcing people to buy something they don't want will never work. The slowdown in BEV sales has almost nothing to do with anything other slowdown in the addition of new "early adopters".

We are all early adopters, and mass acceptance will be slow coming. When it comes, the R2 will benefit. Who knows? Maybe next year will be a turning point from the early adopter crowd to the mass acceptance crowd. I doubt it, but maybe.

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