Uber & Rivian Announce Autonomous R2 Robotaxi Partnership (w/ 1.25 Billion Investment)

[Ralph]

In retrospect its cool to poo-poo these cars, But
The Crown Vic was viewed as the "stealth Wealth" targeted toward the everyday man, has a V8 that would float on the highway, but still be used blow past someone at a light.

The Taurus was radical in its design for the time, then they delivered the SHO that could go toe-to-toe with the BMW and Porsches of that era.

Caprice was basically an impala SS with the corvette engine.

Dodge Charge was cool when it came out, brought back the 70 muscle car nostalgia, but now its mostly associated with douche bags and cops

Tesla was the iPhone on wheels and quickly became the California Camry

I agree with the description of the Dodge Charger drivers being associated with douche bags....

I was around when all of these where first marketed and then transitioned into older age. Nobody I knew considered a Crown Vic, Taurus, or Caprice as the "cool" cars. Both Ford and Chevrolet did have "cool" cars at various times. These were not them. Actually, now I can't remember if Ford had a cool car when the Taurus came out. I recall that as a dismal time in American car company history.

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[Luxus]

The Crown Vic was viewed as the "stealth Wealth" targeted toward the everyday man, has a V8 that would float on the highway, but still be used blow past someone at a light.

Not trying to hijack this thread but I have to respond to this. I had a hand me down Grand Marquis (twin of the Crown Vic) back in the day and I can assure you, you are not blowing by anyone. Those cars were targeted to the large Boomer market which loved the full size body on frame design. I do agree with the floating part, it's another thing the Boomers liked.

 

[strykerwsu]

I agree with the description of the Dodge Charger drivers being associated with douche bags....

I was around when all of these where first marketed and then transitioned into older age. Nobody I knew considered a Crown Vic, Taurus, or Caprice as the "cool" cars. Both Ford and Chevrolet did have "cool" cars at various times. These were not them. Actually, now I can't remember if Ford had a cool car when the Taurus came out. I recall that as a dismal time in American car company history.

Hey, my Charger is an EV lol. Also best body style of a vehicle ever

 

[strykerwsu]

It can easily be argued that none of these were cool with the possible exception of the Tesla. Sales success does not equate to cool.

Crown Vic cool? Nope.
Taurus? In whose world? Caprice?
Cool only happened after the quit making the ones that are cool (to some people).
Charger? Kids around the college here seem to think they are pretty cool.

Caprice (Austrailian version is awesome)

 

[narmstrong79]

I agree with the description of the Dodge Charger drivers being associated with douche bags....

I was around when all of these where first marketed and then transitioned into older age. Nobody I knew considered a Crown Vic, Taurus, or Caprice as the "cool" cars. Both Ford and Chevrolet did have "cool" cars at various times. These were not them. Actually, now I can't remember if Ford had a cool car when the Taurus came out. I recall that as a dismal time in American car company history.

No base model is ever "cool" .. the '80s were definitely a dark time for build quality. Ford still had the Mustang but Taurus was the money maker. Caprice and Crown Vic you could pull a boat with and still had the V8 to show off.

'cool' is in the eye of the beholder, especially when you’re looking through the lens of 80s nostalgia vs. 80s reality.

Ford Taurus was Robocops car too LOL

 

[narmstrong79]

Hey, my Charger is an EV lol. Also best body style of a vehicle ever

The EV Charger looks awesome, too bad it's a stellantis and is totally FUBR

 

[skyguyscott]

Re:Ford Taurus,

I am not sure "cool" was ever an atribute to the Taurus, but it was groundbreaking for its time. In automotive history, it is noteworthy for being the first car that Ford used to introduce Deming's manufacturing paradigm (which the Japanese had taken as gospel decades earlier) to revamp its assembly operations.

It also single-handedly changed the design language of automotive styling of that era with its "jelly bean" look. It made every other sedan of the time appear dated. Ford would make other sedans, but the Taurus was perhaps the last really successful or popular sedan Ford produced before turning to its Truck/SUV-focused strategy.

 

[solaskaze]

 

[EVtowing]

This is why Rivian, Volvo and others (+ waymo, zoox, etc... ) are all targeting Camera + Lidar

+ radars in Rivians.

Elon’s camera only approach seems highly unlikely to ever achieve L4-5 in all weather conditions at a safety level far higher than the average human driver. Currently it is nowhere close to that after a decade of failed promises, every year, that full autonomy was going to happen “this year” at a very high safety level.

 

[Just Passing By]

On a side note: Whenever a "cool" car becomes a Taxi, Cop Car, etc... it really loses its cool factor. Its a good business move, but how does it align with the "adventure" narrative ?

Two observations.

• Rivian makes and sells the EDV, a relatively high public exposure commercial vehicle, which doesn't seem to be undermining the brand positioning around adventure.
• The 8K states "Pursuant to the Vehicle Production Agreement, Subsidiary will develop and manufacture autonomous robotaxi vehicles ("Company Robotaxis") based on the Company’s R2 vehicle platform, equipped with the Company’s Level 4 autonomous driving system hardware and software."

Whatever Uber ends up with doesn't have to look anything like the R2 vehicle Rivian is marketing to us. For example, its unlikely Uber would want a vehicle with ~10" of ground clearance with the associated entry height into the vehicle for passengers, that may be difficult for the physically challenged to use.

 

[narmstrong79]

Whatever Uber ends up with doesn't have to look anything like the R2 vehicle Rivian is marketing to us.

While I don't disagree, The headline specifically stated R2 . Anything else would require an additional manufacturing line, I could see them moving to the smaller R3 to more cybercab sized.

 

[narmstrong79]

+ radars in Rivians.

Correct

 

[savethemanual]

While I don't disagree, The headline specifically stated R2 . Anything else would require an additional manufacturing line, I could see them moving to the smaller R3 to more cybercab sized.

R2 has huge rear seat room! Perfect vehicle for this type of work for Uber. Yes, it will have unique graphics but surely will be an R2 at its core.

 

[Just Passing By]

While I don't disagree, The headline specifically stated R2 . Anything else would require an additional manufacturing line, I could see them moving to the smaller R3 to more cybercab sized.

The headline said "R2" but the definitive 8K filing says "R2 platform". Adding a different body style vehicle optimized for a predominantly metro/urban taxi role doesn't seem like a major impediment; Normal already manufacturers R1S, R1T, EDV and now R2. For 2028 and beyond, Georgia can focus on (and be optimized for) the mass production of R2 and R3 consumer vehicles, while Normal might support the lower annual volume production run vehicles such as an Uber focused vehicle.

 

[savethemanual]

The headline said "R2" but the definitive 8K filing says "R2 platform". Adding a different body style vehicle optimized for a predominantly metro/urban taxi role doesn't seem like a major impediment; Normal already manufacturers R1S, R1T, EDV and now R2. For 2028 and beyond, Georgia can focus on (and be optimized for) the mass production of R2 and R3 consumer vehicles, while Normal might support the lower annual volume production run vehicles such as an Uber focused vehicle.

You are splitting hairs here, the vehicle will be an R2. What specs it has I’m sure are to be determined yet, but no way the body is different than what already will be rolling off the assembly line.

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