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140 degrees

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Thank God! The rear window is not symmetrically opposed like that original photo would lead some to believe. The limited appeal silver trim line is gone as well. It's quite nice. I think it will resonate with their existing adventure minded buyers and outdoor enthusiasts. I think it could steal sales from the Tesla Model Y and Volvo buyers.

I think the Model Y when announced in 2019 was around 37k? I used an appreciation calculator to represent that in 2024 and it was 44,635. So Rivian's R2 is just a bit more expensive now and about the same price as the model y upon actual availability in 2026.

- I hope they offer for sale all black versions of their various accessories, load bars, etc. Let the silver/aluminum go. If therapeutic place a small sample of aluminum in a paper boat and release it to sea.

- Let's talk safety really quickly if we could. I have yet to see an EV take full advantage of the lack of a traditional engine to protect against frontend collision. I would test and offer a frunk crumple-zone wafer-insert that offers additional front end collision protection. Being the first EV to take full advantage of the lack of engine to drastically improve front end collision by way of a larger superior in engineering crumple zone could help them save lives and secure sales to parents. If Rivian has a superior crumple zone compared to a traditional vehicle I am none the aware and marketing should make the safety apparent. Parents in this demographic do not mess around with vehicle safety. I think Volvo is renowned for safety, stealing that title would be huge. Perhaps think about removing the frunk on R3 and instead opting for the most advanced dynamic crumple zone yet offered in a vehicle.

- Eat the additional cost and build an earlier line in the Normal, IL facility for R2. Raising capital when the time comes will be way easier if would-be-investors know that the R2 production is in advanced end stages. You will see better terms. You will be protecting existing shareholder value. Raise AFTER meaningful progress on R2 production not before. Don't be penny-wise but human behavior foolish. It may save a few million to wait and produce R2 in GA but it will cost your existing shareholders considerably. It will result in less ideal capital terms as a result of increased perceived risk if Rivian waits on R2 production to occur in GA. It will be truly dumb; inspiringly so. This is to speak nothing for the time value of money and opportunity costs as they relate to six months of earlier R2 sales in small quantity out of Normal. I'm certain that math would be eye opening for leadership if they did it. Also, R2s on the road lead to future sales; more R2s sold. By producing in limited quantity early from Normal, IL you are creating a longer term sales pipeline and receiving free advertising when compared to delaying R2 production till GA plant is built out. To recap, a more aggressive R2 start date leads to more secure investor value, better capital terms, increased sales, better company morale, appreciation for work ethic as part of the brand image.

Tesla made it through some bad financial times in part due to hype. A second gen roadster that didn't get produced, a semi barely being produced, solar panels, etc. Having so much potential for increased revenue in the future made investors more willing to bridge to model 3 production. There's no bridge to R2 production. There's a CEO that does not sell and has not created any other lines of business that could promise revenue in the future. Absent a bridge to this distant future R2 we must attempt to bring the R2 date towards present. If they do so it will show strong leadership on the part of the CEO. Failure is still success, if they miss a more aggressive deadline it's still sooner compared to existing dates. They will create a sense of urgency among Rivian leadership which is good.

Rivian made a mistake in revealing the R2 after disappointing 2024 revenue and production guidance. If they had revealed it in the month leading up to that same guidance it would have buoyed the stock and lead to better perception. I have seen a real lack of understanding of human behavior from Rivian's board and executive leadership so far. I am confident in the Rivian brand. I am confident in the mission. I am confident in the vehicle. I am not confident in their ability to manufacture. I am not confident in their ability to make prudent business decisions based on an understanding of human behavior instead of merely financials. There has to be a grander vision and the CEO has to be willing to play that role.
We partially agree. I have great respect for Rivian's management, except for their shareholder communication. The miss on 2024 production, compared to the whisper number, was big. I don't think the stock would have fallen so far without this shock. There was a big sense of disappointment among friendly analysts.

I believe the best scenario for the bridge era is some announcements about the commercial RCV. There is now a lot of available capacity in Normal, and the RCV supposedly has better margins than the R1x. Don't jerk the manufacturing design team around. We don't want Tesla style manufacturing hell, with accompanying quality lapses. Rivian is currently at the top of vehicle consumer satisfaction surveys. That is incredibly impressive and valuable, it should be maintained if possible.

I love everything I have seen so far on the R2. The big open question for me is efficiency. If it looks good, I'm in with a deposit.
 

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seatosummit

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What so funny is that a lot of R1 guys doing chrome delete and most probably a lot of R2 guys will add chrome.
Gotta have something to mod!
 

Activist_Investor

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We partially agree. I have great respect for Rivian's management, except for their shareholder communication. The miss on 2024 production, compared to the whisper number, was big. I don't think the stock would have fallen so far without this shock. There was a big sense of disappointment among friendly analysts.

I believe the best scenario for the bridge era is some announcements about the commercial RCV. There is now a lot of available capacity in Normal, and the RCV supposedly has better margins than the R1x. Don't jerk the manufacturing design team around. We don't want Tesla style manufacturing hell, with accompanying quality lapses. Rivian is currently at the top of vehicle consumer satisfaction surveys. That is incredibly impressive and valuable, it should be maintained if possible.

I love everything I have seen so far on the R2. The big open question for me is efficiency. If it looks good, I'm in with a deposit.
I don't think commercial RCV is a strong enough bridge to R2 (2026). I think it's an expensive (for now) van that is selling in limited quantity because companies have carbon emission goals and it's really good marketing. I think they need to remove some worry about production deadline misses by moving the date up and producing in the existing plant. Even if that is seen as a failure later it will bridge the company to the higher output production promised by GA plant and ultimately success. It will significantly de-risk the stock and change the narrative away from NIO, Fisker, Lucid, etc. I think Rivian can be a winner but it's all but ensured. Better marketing, more aggressive production deadlines, and a willingness to use data science to increase demographic appeal through optional features and styling as a means of increasing total production output are necessary.
 

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An R2 line in IL is going to ENSURE financial success. It will stabilize the stock through to production. It will lead to better terms on the capital raise. Better perception of leadership. A perception that Rivian has a strong work ethic. An R2 line in IL is a small potential failure only in retrospect that all but ensures the success of the company in the long run. The hype is the bridge. lol
I completely agree, but I'm still doubtful that it will be produced in Normal.
 

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EmPickle

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Interior yet to be seen.
Unless you saw it in the Superbowl add.
The center console doesn't split, it just lifts up.
The seats don't have the center strip.
We didn't see the dash, I don't think.
 

Dark-Fx

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Who thinks the prototype revealed tomorrow would be anything other than white?
There's going to be several. Likely different trims as well, and Rivian will likely stick to producing them instead of what happened with the R1 line.
 

Dark-Fx

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Unless you saw it in the Superbowl add.
The center console doesn't split, it just lifts up.
The seats don't have the center strip.
We didn't see the dash, I don't think.
The steering wheel doesn't have a compass logo either /s
 

godfodder0901

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Unless you saw it in the Superbowl add.
The center console doesn't split, it just lifts up.
The seats don't have the center strip.
We didn't see the dash, I don't think.
Absolutely not it. Modified R1. No way this leaks in a "Dr. Ken" commercial...
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