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mkg3
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Most prototype builds are made using temporary tools, molds and other low cost and readily available means. These are one-off items, including some hand made and printed parts.
Additionally, NHTSA has regulations on demo/proto vehicle exemptions, allowing limited pre-production of vehicles to be on the road without having met the safety standards
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Donald Stanfield
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Each one of those prototypes costs millions of dollars. They are all hand built with 1 of 1 parts. Until Rivian can create all the toolings, acquire materials in volume, and assemble them in volume, the costs are insane.
UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan
Well-Known Member
Because they don’t have access to your personal bank account, you big shot spender.
Each handbuilt concept car cost millions.
windblowlc
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And I thought you meant R2S, R2T, and R2X...
R1Thor
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Money AND time.
From an Engineering perspective, building the first of anything takes YEARS and more money than makes sense most of the time, because you fail WAY more than you succeed.
Rework, re-design, re-tooling happens multiples of times to get one thing done. And it's bonkers how many times changing that one "minor" thing results in dozens of up and downstream changes to accommodate that 'simple' change. Just to prove it out.
That's why 99.9% of the time the concept/prototype/show car you see the first time IS NOT 1:1 with the production vehicles. Things you learn building #1 and then all of the assumptions you made that you thought could make it to production that needed to be scrapped due to automation requirements...
Rivian is also still a startup, remember. Even if they thought they could build 3 for public consumption, it simply wouldn't be responsible.
Furthermore, there are at least a few mules, test boxes, partial builds, and prototype chassis hanging out in the R&D department. That is: there ARE other R2s (at least functional builds), but you and I will never ever see them. And there's no reason to: they're not refined, and you wouldn't want anyone speculating on them. And they're probably outfitted with innumerable sensors, datums, and monitoring/testing equipment to continuously monitor and validate telemetry, performance, resonance, and systems integrity + behavior.
One other thing: IP. The more you put out, the more opportunities your competitors have to copy your homework. The more people you open your secrets to, the less likely they'll be secrets for long! I'm betting the team that follows the R2 around is probably under very specific instructions to maintain certain levels of confidentiality.
It's also verily possible they have some proprietary inventions in these vehicles they're not ready to patent yet. (Remember: patents mature--the more you can delay initial filing, the longer you have your protection. SO, it's almost better to keep the secrets as long as possible. I actually worked for a company who decided to NEVER file a patent for their IP. They're so secretive of it and it gives them such a competitive advantage, they won't publicize the innovation so it cannot be copied later. Any of us who were ever in the vicinity of it had to sign our rights away to take that information to the grave. I don't know how durable it is, but I'm not about to test it either!)
Notwithstanding, competitors aside, vendors and suppliers tend to abuse information they can glean from what you're doing in early stages. For example: if they figure out they have the secret sauce to accomplish what you want, they can gouge you for the tech later on. Whereas if you're playing supply chain relationship building, you might engage with suppliers moreso on an "well, if you can accomplish this at X price" they'll work for you. IF they find out you absolutely need their tech to make your product work, they're going to charge you for it.
From an Engineering perspective, building the first of anything takes YEARS and more money than makes sense most of the time, because you fail WAY more than you succeed.
Rework, re-design, re-tooling happens multiples of times to get one thing done. And it's bonkers how many times changing that one "minor" thing results in dozens of up and downstream changes to accommodate that 'simple' change. Just to prove it out.
That's why 99.9% of the time the concept/prototype/show car you see the first time IS NOT 1:1 with the production vehicles. Things you learn building #1 and then all of the assumptions you made that you thought could make it to production that needed to be scrapped due to automation requirements...
Rivian is also still a startup, remember. Even if they thought they could build 3 for public consumption, it simply wouldn't be responsible.
Furthermore, there are at least a few mules, test boxes, partial builds, and prototype chassis hanging out in the R&D department. That is: there ARE other R2s (at least functional builds), but you and I will never ever see them. And there's no reason to: they're not refined, and you wouldn't want anyone speculating on them. And they're probably outfitted with innumerable sensors, datums, and monitoring/testing equipment to continuously monitor and validate telemetry, performance, resonance, and systems integrity + behavior.
One other thing: IP. The more you put out, the more opportunities your competitors have to copy your homework. The more people you open your secrets to, the less likely they'll be secrets for long! I'm betting the team that follows the R2 around is probably under very specific instructions to maintain certain levels of confidentiality.
It's also verily possible they have some proprietary inventions in these vehicles they're not ready to patent yet. (Remember: patents mature--the more you can delay initial filing, the longer you have your protection. SO, it's almost better to keep the secrets as long as possible. I actually worked for a company who decided to NEVER file a patent for their IP. They're so secretive of it and it gives them such a competitive advantage, they won't publicize the innovation so it cannot be copied later. Any of us who were ever in the vicinity of it had to sign our rights away to take that information to the grave. I don't know how durable it is, but I'm not about to test it either!)
Notwithstanding, competitors aside, vendors and suppliers tend to abuse information they can glean from what you're doing in early stages. For example: if they figure out they have the secret sauce to accomplish what you want, they can gouge you for the tech later on. Whereas if you're playing supply chain relationship building, you might engage with suppliers moreso on an "well, if you can accomplish this at X price" they'll work for you. IF they find out you absolutely need their tech to make your product work, they're going to charge you for it.
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