Doug Score

[BuckeyeTruckGuy]

So I was just watching Doug DeMuro’s new video on his take of the Ford F-150 Lightning and he mentions Rivian at the 7:18 mark. I sure hope he did not get any inside scoop of any delays?

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[timesinks]

So I was just watching Doug DeMuro’s new video on his take of the Ford F-150 Lightning and he mentions Rivian at the 7:18 mark. I sure hope he did not get any inside scoop of any delays?

Every time he's mentioned Rivian, it's seemed like he doesn't actually follow the company. I don't get the impression he has any sort of an inside scoop.

 

[kanundrum]

Its weird in all his reviews he doesnt test charge speed, curve, peak etc. Inside EVs, Kyle, and Tom are where its at.

 

[cohall]

I doubt Doug has any inside info, but he may just be reading the signs like the rest of us. I think it's all but guaranteed there will be some level of delay at this point. I mean, we're a week from June and they still can't provide a single picture of the production interior, or real photos of the colors. Not good. Not to mention their own employees are posting on Instagram that it won't be ready for a couple of months. It's disappointing but I'm trying to accept it.

 

[Autolycus]

For those who don't want to watch, he says (not exact, but close), "They've been promising for a year that it will be out in June 2021, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. Some are saying early 2022". It's a very vague reference without any specific information behind. Could there be a delay that he's heard about? Sure. Is it more likely that he's just going off vague internet rumors and speculation? Yes.

 

[LoneStar]

Inconceivable that Rivian would wait literally up to the moment of June to announce a delay in production... whether its a month, six months or a year! That would be a disaster because why the hell would any reset be more believable.

Rivian's handled this YEARS LONG journey (except the last 20 days) carefully managing while also stoking expectations. It would be so far out of character for them to fall flat on their collective faces this close to the climax.

If this really happens... I won't buy into it being "Covid related" or even "chip or some critical part" related. I don't care what they say. I will read it as some significant technical shortfall. Something like way under-rated EPA mileage score or poor crash test score. Or something not performing as intended. Those are the kinds of things you hide from the public until forced to acknowledge it.

 

[Sean]

Rivian is paying and hiring more people do basically just do deliveries. Just a guess but they wouldn't have people on the payroll if they can't do the job for many more months.

 

[cohall]

Rivian is paying and hiring more people do basically just do deliveries. Just a guess but they wouldn't have people on the payroll if they can't do the job for many more months.

Agreed. While pushing a month or two seems likely, a delay to 2022 doesn't make sense at all based on what we know.

 

[Trandall]

My best guess is that Rivian has slipped some from their intended timeline because they underestimated the time to get the last bits of production, sales/ financing, insurance, training, delivery over the wall. I believe the intention was Guide contact much earlier in May but they may still technically fulfill their statement before the end of the month... Same with delivery, probably were targeting several hundred in June starting around the middle but have slipped to 50 to <100 in the last week of June. At this stage in the game I feel significant schedule bust without communication is a breach of trust.

You want to be in the circle of trust don't you Rivian?

 

[St Bernard]

Agreed. While pushing a month or two seems likely, a delay to 2022 doesn't make sense at all based on what we know.

There is no way they will be delayed. They will ship 100-200 units in June so they can stay on track. They obviously have a different philosophy from the other Auto Mfg‘s and do things in their own way. This is why a lot of us are so excited about the Company. Everything they have done, except communications, has been top notch. We will all be singing a different tune in the next few weeks. RIT’S are coming sooooon.

 

[timesinks]

You don't want to hire people too early and have them sitting around on payroll not doing anything. But if you start hiring too late, you're bound to find out that hiring thousands of people in a 6-week span is really hard. The scope of what they're trying to spin up is massive, and threading that needle just right is nearly impossible. Being off by a few weeks is almost expected.

But, I doubt they want to be in a position where they eat the PR hit of announcing a delay that's only weeks long. It just doesn't make sense. What does make sense is, ready or just-shy-of-ready, hitting go.

I fully expect that R1T interior walkthrough along with final EPA numbers will go live on their website concurrently with the very first guide emails going out. A lot of employees are going to be working a lot of long hours for the next 5-7 days to make that a reality. I would honestly be shocked if we don't have a material update (including some initial guide conversations) with mostly good news next week.

 

[ajdelange]

even "chip or some critical part" related.

That's actually the most likely explanation. Tesla apparently has thousands of cars sitting in the Freemont lot waiting for some part or parts. Rumor has it that these will be shipped to the show rooms and that shop people there will install this part(s) when it is available. Rivian, of course, doesn't have the network of stores.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Rivian is still privately held. They don't have to answer to shareholders, at least not publicly. I think that's a big driver of secrecy of information regarding the launch of their first product.

 

[CommodoreAmiga]

Its weird in all his reviews he doesnt test charge speed, curve, peak etc. Inside EVs, Kyle, and Tom are where its at.

I am subscribed to, and watch, Doug's videos. He's entertaining, and I generally like his videos.

However, he is NOT an automotive journalist, imo. I know he posts videos that feature cars, and he did write blogs for Auto Trader... But I don't consider him to be a journalist. Really, he's an entertainer. His videos focus on quirks and entertainment rather than historical accuracy. He frequently gets facts wrong, too -- which is fine once you view the videos from the perspective of "entertain me" rather than "educate me".

DeMuro, Hoovie, Clarkson... Entertainers who like cars.

 

[rraj2k81]

I am subscribed to, and watch, Doug's videos. He's entertaining, and I generally like his videos.

However, he is NOT an automotive journalist, imo. I know he posts videos that feature cars, and he did write blogs for Auto Trader... But I don't consider him to be a journalist. Really, he's an entertainer. His videos focus on quirks and entertainment rather than historical accuracy. He frequently gets facts wrong, too -- which is fine once you view the videos from the perspective of "entertain me" rather than "educate me".

DeMuro, Hoovie, Clarkson... Entertainers who like cars.

I was going to type the exact same thing. He is entertaining to watch with his quarks and features, but his cannot review cars (period). The way he scores cars (dougscore) is atrocious.

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