Should Rivian have a big delivery event?

[irish26]

Tesla just had a live streamed delivery event for the recent Model S refresh. It was quite underwhelming but it did generate a lot of hype.

I'd love to see Rivian do the same. Unfortunately it just doesn't seem like their style.

Do you think they will? Should they?

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[KeithPleas]

You're right - Tesla is certainly a hype company, while Rivian seems intent on disappearing. Look at their Twitter feed - 2 tweets on the camp kitchen in more than 3 weeks. Maybe they're pivoting to doing Amazon vans and camping gear?

Quite a few of my friends know we're on the list (Feb 2019) and have asked steadily over the years - nobody has mentioned Rivian to me in months but they do want to talk about the F150, etc. Even my 9yo grandson who was super-excited about our being the first in the family with an EV has changed his mind - he wants me to get a Ferrari.

 

[Trandall]

I believe Rivian has already accomplished an underwhelming Launch, to answer the question. At this point I would rather just have real people start getting their trucks. I still believe Rivian will be first to market and the R1's will blow everyone away. I would however love to see some new videos of R1's getting super muddy maybe footage of plowing through some creek bed at speed. I know not very "leave no trace" but still very gratuitous.

 

[CommodoreAmiga]

I'd actually be a bit frustrated if they did a big launch event. With the delays and lack of communication I think the best possible outcome is if they just quietly start delivering vehicles, this month. It at least keeps the illusion in my mind of understated operation and under-promise/over-deliver.

 

[whyasky]

I'd actually be a bit frustrated if they did a big launch event. With the delays and lack of communication I think the best possible outcome is if they just quietly start delivering vehicles, this month. It at least keeps the illusion in my mind of understated operation and under-promise/over-deliver.

I generally agree with you. Quiet and relatively understated seems the right path. That said, it will likely be comparable to the rest of their communications - which I expect would entail a feel good video and an accompanying story on the website. In any case, they've got about 3 weeks to make it happen so I'm sure they've got their heads down working through all that entails.

 

[TessP100D]

I generally agree with you. Quiet and relatively understated seems the right path. That said, it will likely be comparable to the rest of their communications - which I expect would entail a feel good video and an accompanying story on the website. In any case, they've got about 3 weeks to make it happen so I'm sure they've got their heads down working through all that entails.

And then what will you say if we get another delay?

 

[kanundrum]

 

[SANZC02]

And then what will you say if we get another delay?

Evaluate my options... There are 2, bail or wait longer....

I choose wait longer, in the long scheme of things the actual impact on my life is zero if I get the vehicle this year or next....

I fully understood what I was getting into when I placed my deposit and accepted all that it entails.

 

[BigE]

Tesla just had a live streamed delivery event for the recent Model S refresh. It was quite underwhelming but it did generate a lot of hype.

I'd love to see Rivian do the same. Unfortunately it just doesn't seem like their style.

Do you think they will? Should they?

Rivian did a big splash event after the LA Auto show with RJ. Rivian per the Electric Truck survey that come out a month or so ago is not yet very well know, so why not have an unveiling or delivery to first 25 customers?

 

[RWerksman]

I'm not sure how I feel about this.

One one hand, a big launch party seems counterculture to Rivian. Slow and steady appears to be the name of the game lately, with the in-person gatherings that they've previously put on feeling like decades past.

On the other hand, there is a distinct lack of hype lately, and some big splashy launch event would sure help in that department. It really appears to be a lovely vehicle, and the more people hear about it the better.

I guess that like much in life, it's complicated.

One thing for sure is that a big splashy event or article or whatever about Jeffy B getting VIN #1 would not be good. Public sentiment is pretty anti Bezos right now, and the optics on it would be quite poor.

 

[Diddy123]

I would take any event, announcement, communication, email, phone call, tweet, or similar that made me believe that they are on track to actually produce a vehicle anytime in the foreseeable future.

Trucks are supposed to be in customer hands in the next 2 weeks, which according to Rivian themselves, means that production should have started in earnest back in May. (They had previously stated that production would start in Oct 2020 to meet delivery in December).

There's not one piece of evidence even close to suggesting there's a chance of that happening. The silence is deafening, as they say.

 

[jjwolf120]

Trucks are supposed to be in customer hands in the next 2 weeks

Technically it is two weeks plus five days.

 

[timf]

I would take any event, announcement, communication, email, phone call, tweet, or similar that made me believe that they are on track to actually produce a vehicle anytime in the foreseeable future.

Trucks are supposed to be in customer hands in the next 2 weeks, which according to Rivian themselves, means that production should have started in earnest back in May. (They had previously stated that production would start in Oct 2020 to meet delivery in December).

There's not one piece of evidence even close to suggesting there's a chance of that happening. The silence is deafening, as they say.

Rivian has been steadily producing vehicles (at a very low rate, mind you) for several months now, as is evidenced by the increasing number of test vehicles on the road. At some point, and it could have happened already for all we know, they will build a truck designated for a customer rather than their test fleet. I would think RJ would make a big deal about this like when the first test R1T and R1S rolled off the line, but you never know.

 

[cc84]

At some point, and it could have happened already for all we know, they will build a truck designated for a customer rather than their test fleet.

For this to happen, I would think that particular customer(s) would know all about the vehicle, including the EPA numbers. I think we need all this before any manufacturing is done, or at least I do. And, it needs to be disclosed this month, if deliveries are to be made.

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