Rivian partners with ALLDATA to expand repair service

[VandalSibs]

While that sucks, the initial press release from ALLData didn't mention their DIY line:

Under this agreement, ALLDATA became the first third‐party provider to deliver Rivian’s repair and maintenance data to mechanical and collision repair facilities nationwide.

Maybe it was a condition from Rivian to share the documentation with ALLData - maybe they don't want DIY-ers to get close to the HV parts.

Sponsored

 

[kallisti5]

Maybe it was a condition from Rivian to share the documentation with ALLData

Very likely, but I do feel like their intents are more profit-motivated at this point. They want to collect that sweet, sweet service revenue. (which I have no issues with.. what I do have issues with is locking consumers out completely from servicing their own vehicles)

Someone on reddit has a Pro subscription and confirmed the $209/mo doesn't get you much yet beyond a bunch of generic disassembly instructions.

maybe they don't want DIY-ers to get close to the HV parts.

I really feel like this a bad excuse people make up for EV's. (no offense intended, we just hear it a lot) You could make the same case that no consumer should work on their gas vehicle because the gas could explode, the DOT3 brake fluid could eat paint, the 12V battery could spark if you drop a wrench across it, or the lead acid battery acid could burn your eyes.

Over 48v will cross the skin barrier and should be treated with respect, just like the outlets in your home. By preventing consumers from accessing the proper safety procedures, Rivian is actually making DIY service *less* safe.

 

[VandalSibs]

I totally get the desire to do repairs yourself on a vehicle - but I think the gulf between something that is self-repairable and "needs a shop" is bigger with EVs vs ICEVs. And really, that's with older ICEVs, as newer ICEVs are just plain more complex that the cars of even 20 years ago.

I don't think Rivian hates their customers as you said in a previous post, but restricting this kind of info is not great either.

 

[Nixapatfan]

I totally get the desire to do repairs yourself on a vehicle - but I think the gulf between something that is self-repairable and "needs a shop" is bigger with EVs vs ICEVs. And really, that's with older ICEVs, as newer ICEVs are just plain more complex that the cars of even 20 years ago.

I don't think Rivian hates their customers as you said in a previous post, but restricting this kind of info is not great either.

There are so many parts of this truck that are no different than ICE cars that doesn't require touching the HV that Rivian likes to gatekeep. No reason why brake service, 12v, air suspension, hydraulic sway control, tonneau cover, various seals and gaskets and etc. cannot be done by DIY'er given proper instructions and access to service menus to reset components.

What Rivian is doing is purely driven by their self interest, the "safety" angle is just marketing BS as saying otherwise would make them look worse.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Whether you like it or not… or however inconvenient to you… every single business has their level of tolerance for liability risk. You personally have your own levels of risk tolerance too. This shouldn’t be difficult to relate with.

There is no wrong or right here and shouldn’t be taken personally. It’s just how it is and has always been. As time passes and gen1s get older, and predominantly out of warranty, Rivian might loosen their grip on right to repair. Especially as they begin to end active support. Let’s be real, soon gen1s will become a very small minority of all cars they’ve delivered. It will no longer be economical for them to train techs and devote resources to it.

None of this is new. Look at the industry and existing cars. Consumer level info (like Hayne’s or Bosch repair manuals) is almost never available when the cars are new. Only several years later.

 

[mcd1992]

Considering how open Tesla is with service manuals and even their in-car diagnostic menus, hopefully Rivian can catch up with them. https://service.tesla.com/en-US/

I highly doubt its liability with HV wanting them to keep it closed. Probably more they want everything to go through service centers for documentation and keeping analytics to improve future generations / r3+

With more gen 1s getting out of warranty and the service center times getting worse even before R2 launch they'll have to open up to 3rd party repairs eventually. Or the brand name gets tarnished like old Ford.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I highly doubt its liability with HV wanting them to keep it closed.

It's overall legal liability. Not just the nature and inherent danger of the HV pack—i.e. someone attempting to DIY, messing up, suffer properly loss or bodily injury, and then try to place blame on the vehicle manufacturer. We know there are people out there who are dangerous with even just a screwdriver. We know there are law firms out there who would pounce on any opportunity to profit from class action suits.

In the landscape of car companies, Rivian is young and highly sensitive about its financials and risks. It needs lots of capital to keep going. It needs to watch its CAPEX closely (and investors are watching that too). Though not repair related, it already has one very costly class action suit it's had to settle. It doesn't need to open itself up to more, more than it already has. This is their perspective and the perspective of any company in similar situation.

On the flip side, this John Deere case is likely on the radar of every OEM: https://www.thedrive.com/news/john-deere-to-pay-99-million-in-monumental-right-to-repair-settlement

 

[100jacks]

@kallisti5 they sell the access to Rivian RIDE software on 14 day and 30 day subscription model. Email the aftersales and be ready to have a business address to provide to get an account set up.

Sponsored