Rivian R1T's 8 Drive Modes [Official Video]

[the long way downunder]

Their communications and production teams really need to get together and figure out what they are doing. This should also include Service and RAN buildout units. Management is failing at management.
The R1 could be an epic success if Rivian departments worked as a cohesive unit.

Yes and no. A single video is a single topic and this one covered the topic!
I agree investor communications is sorely lacking, but I wouldn't call this "management failing" – Rivian is not a small company but I imagine its resources are constrained to optimal "burn rate" (keep in mind Tesla spends millions on declaring it spends "nothing" on marketing … : )
I'm looking forward to documents (and videos) on the service network and RAN and third party (EA) charging, but those expectations are a 2023-2025 time frame.
Anyone lucky enough to be driving an R1 in '22 has to be prepared for the trip to be as an early adopter and willing to deal with the shortcomings of a newly minted, first of its kind EV.

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[Ladiver]

Yes and no. A single video is a single topic and this one covered the topic!
I agree investor communications is sorely lacking, but I wouldn't call this "management failing" – Rivian is not a small company but I imagine its resources are constrained to optimal "burn rate" (keep in mind Tesla spends millions on declaring it spends "nothing" on marketing … : )
I'm looking forward to documents (and videos) on the service network and RAN and third party (EA) charging, but those expectations are a 2023-2025 time frame.
Anyone lucky enough to be driving an R1 in '22 has to be prepared for the trip to be as an early adopter and willing to deal with the shortcomings of a newly minted, first of its kind EV.

Yep, this covered driving modes, I got it. I also completely understand paying a premium to be a beta tester of a new company. I'm not sure I agree with you regarding investor communications. I believe RJ has provided exactly what he thinks investors want to hear (production has started and vehicles are being delivered, including the R1S).

My comment is based on the following;
- Customer Service is not informed of anything until it has been released to the public (end even then, I am not so sure)
- Production rates/results are only being released for earnings reports
- Deliveries are based on proximity to service, but Service Centers are not ready for launch.
- Rivian Adventure Network, not even sure what to say about this other than clearly not ready. I asked Customer Service where any RAN locations are functional and they replied to my e-mail but ignored that request

Rivian can build R1Ts and the design is great. The UI/UX will take some work, but that is to be expected. Other than that, each department is in a silo and doing its own thing. There does not appear to be anyone that actually knows (or cares) what the other departments are doing. I look at the executive departures and they scream "Rivian won't let me do my job". I hope that changes S00N, but I highly doubt it will. There will only be a few more quarterly investor calls before the investors start to walk away.

 

[AdamsFan1983]

I wouldn't call myself a gearhead, but I gotta admit, watching this was weirdly gratifying. Bonus points for the almost tie-fighter like audio embellishments

 

[the long way downunder]

Yep, this covered driving modes, I got it. I also completely understand paying a premium to be a beta tester of a new company. I'm not sure I agree with you regarding investor communications. I believe RJ has provided exactly what he thinks investors want to hear (production has started and vehicles are being delivered, including the R1S).

My comment is based on the following;
- Customer Service is not informed of anything until it has been released to the public (end even then, I am not so sure)
- Production rates/results are only being released for earnings reports
- Deliveries are based on proximity to service, but Service Centers are not ready for launch.
- Rivian Adventure Network, not even sure what to say about this other than clearly not ready. I asked Customer Service where any RAN locations are functional and they replied to my e-mail but ignored that request

Rivian can build R1Ts and the design is great. The UI/UX will take some work, but that is to be expected. Other than that, each department is in a silo and doing its own thing. There does not appear to be anyone that actually knows (or cares) what the other departments are doing. I look at the executive departures and they scream "Rivian won't let me do my job". I hope that changes S00N, but I highly doubt it will. There will only be a few more quarterly investor calls before the investors start to walk away.

My interaction with Rivian has been fine, though they did tell me they just don't do anything much for me until I take delivery of the vehicle. I think that makes sense (they have finite support resources and should focus their attention on owners, which also helps them develop their support knowledge from real world owners rather than being part of the sales cycle.)

As for exec departures, I know of only the COO, which is a "did he jump or was he pushed?" afaik.

I think this first quarter 2022 is the important one to get right. Once they tell us about Q2, then they execute to a tee on Q2, then we've got a convoy.

 

[Ladiver]

I think this first quarter 2022 is the important one to get right. Once they tell us about Q2, then they execute to a tee on Q2, then we've got a convoy.

Exactly. I think Q2 will be make or break for Rivian.

 

[thrill]

Exactly. I think Q2 will be make or break for Rivian.

In Amazon's 59th quarter it made as much profit as the sum of the 58 previous quarters. Growth occurs when the market finally desperately wants what took 14 years to prepare for "overnight success".

 

[kylealden]

My comment is based on the following;
- Customer Service is not informed of anything until it has been released to the public (end even then, I am not so sure)

Customer Service is a terrible way to announce things. They should have above average expertise, but not privileged knowledge. There's a reason you can't call up Windows customer service and ask them about undisclosed vulnerabilities. (Or rather, that you shouldn't expect them to tell you.)

 

[Ladiver]

In Amazon's 59th quarter it made as much profit as the sum of the 58 previous quarters. Growth occurs when the market finally desperately wants what took 14 years to prepare for "overnight success".

Profits will not necessarily be what investors are looking at. There will be no profits for several years as a startup. What investors will be looking at is performance based on projections and previous results. If RJ said the first R1S shipments have been made (which he did say), then investors will start to question why only a handful of R1S deliveries have happened in Q1! The projection of completing LE preorders by end of 2022 will be questioned when only a few thousand R1Ts have been delivered through Q1. Even if Rivian actually meets its delivery goals, then investors will start looking at the other items which Rivian used as sources of revenue (subscriptions, RAN, etc.) when selling their IPO.

 

[AllInev]

Exactly. I think Q2 will be make or break for Rivian.

It's very difficult (for me) to imagine a bad Q2 breaking Rivian. They've got a little more room on the runway. That said, a bad Q2 might result in a few open positions in upper management.

 

[Ladiver]

Customer Service is a terrible way to announce things. They should have above average expertise, but not privileged knowledge. There's a reason you can't call up Windows customer service and ask them about undisclosed vulnerabilities. (Or rather, that you shouldn't expect them to tell you.)

Completely agree. BUT...they should at least be informed so that when customers and/or potential customers contact them to ask about a feature (announced or not), everyone is saying the same thing. Rivian Customer Service reminds me of parents that are not on the same page, and we are the children that don't like the answers we are getting. What do we do? Ask a different CS rep and get a slightly different answer.

 

[Ladiver]

It's very difficult (for me) to imagine a bad Q2 breaking Rivian. They've got a little more room on the runway. That said, a bad Q2 might result in a few open positions in upper management.

They really just have to show an honest effort. The goals they have stated are unattainable, in my opinion. I think they need to reset expectations and actually achieve their goals, not just say they did.

 

[Craigins]

On Instagram stories, the 8 modes are intro'd with a slide that says: "We are launching with eight drive modes for the R1T..."

Maybe its semantics but the word "launch" really gives me a bad impression - didn't Rivian launch in 4+ months ago when it "sold" R1Ts in September?

I don't really watch video for information, so going off the quote you added, I believe this is in reference to the Rivian membership subscription. There were talks of additional drive modes. Thus they are launching with 8 drive modes, with additional modes to be added in the future for subscribed members.

I read launching as starting in that aspect.

 

[McMoo]

Is there any way to set regen independently? I would probably want to use high even in all purpose mode and would like the ability to switch to low in snowy/icy conditions.

 

[OverZealous]

Is there any way to set regen independently? I would probably want to use high even in all purpose mode and would like the ability to switch to low in snowy/icy conditions.

From the videos I've seen, each drive mode lets you also choose between a limited set of options for regen, steering, and ride height. By limited, I mean that some values are limited to specific drive modes (so, for example, you can't choose the highest ride height except in certain off-road modes).

Here's the part of the manual discussing regen:

 

[mgc0216]

Other than that, each department is in a silo and doing its own thing. There does not appear to be anyone that actually knows (or cares) what the other departments are doing. I look at the executive departures and they scream "Rivian won't let me do my job". I hope that changes S00N, but I highly doubt it will. There will only be a few more quarterly investor calls before the investors start to walk away.

is rivian performing optimally, no. but, I can tell you from personal experience working at some very large very successful companies over many decades, the issues you are talking about are not in any way unique to rivian. there have been innumerable times I've turned to a colleague and said "imagine how successful Microsoft/Amazon/VMware/Intel/Google could be if we did things the right way".

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