Catch the full episode, and others like it, on Big Technology Podcast. Subscribe here: Spotify: spoti.fi/32aZGZx Apple: apple.co/3AebxCK Etc. pod.link/1522960417/
An adult that burns through all of that cash and has yet to ramp production of the current line up to any meaningful volume? That is your version. You are doing him a disservice.
Preach it! Forbes claimed in a recent article rivian has incinerated over $19,000,000,000+ since 2019. For just over 110,000 vehicles made. Vs tesla in a much less friendly ev space. With much less in the way of a supply chain? Raised about $20,000,000,000 has no debt and over $30,000,000,000 in the bank! And rivian in total is over 24-26billion raised depending on whose numbers one can trust. I'd bet with the vag cash it's now over 30billion and rj when Trump takes over. Lowering the interest rates. Will go right to the markets and raise another 3-5billion. He's also the one who claimed in late 2023 it would take 10-15billion to build out the GA plant!
@@nguyep4Sorry, which car company did you successfully start? Guessing you have zero idea what it takes to do that. Rivian has a 50/50 chance. Regardless, he presents as a calm collected person who seems to have humanity’s and the earth’s best interest in mind.
@@roveriia6334Rivian’s ethos is all about living in adventure. There is nothing adventurous about being in a self driving vehicle. While FSD is the future and will have high adoption rates, it’s not the market that Rivian is after. FSD’s success does not spell Rivian’s doom. There’s a place for both to exist and it’s not one or the other that everyone makes it seem to be.
Alex knocks it out of the park...again! Awesome podcast with RJ Scaringe. Unlike so many auto execs, RJ doesn't shy away from Alex's questions and gives honest, straightforward answers. I really hope Rivian succeeds in the long term.
Just because R.J. doesn't shy away from the questions asked does not mean Rivian will survive. Those are disparate issues. The hard facts are that Rivian cars are priced so high they don't qualify for the full tax credit for electric vehicles; consequently, their loss in market share has been huge. And that was all before Elon helped Trump get re-elected. "First Buddy" Elon is now dictating U.S. government policy on electric vehicles, and that's bad news for all Tesla competitors.
Great conversation. Rivian has great products and an exciting product pipeline. I sincerely hope they can survive for the long run. We’re rooting for you RJ!!
He is really nice he takes a $32,000 loss on every car he sells. It is basically a charity he is running! VW just gave them 2$B so the charity run a bit longer again.
@@Utokoyou do get this is how every car maker starts if not almost every business at first in the red ?? It takes money to make money over time. Cars are especially harder.
@@DarinFrerichs It is 15 years. $17B burned since they are public is unheard off because everyone else would be bankrupt already. At some point you need to show you can do it. The cars are really good but at 100K it looks a bit different. They need to cut nearly 50% of cost in production, material cost are already low. They don't get the other 3$ B from VW without positive gross margin. I guess at least they don't need to compete with the chinese too with the tariffs.
@Utoko as I assume you don't understood Finance, I'd have asked you listen to the interview again, but since you apparently already listened to it, I would refrain from saying you are dump
This was a fantastic interview! I’m a huge fan of RJ and Rivian and have an R2 reserved since he introduced last March. The one thing I was hoping to hear during the VW conversation was a mention of Scout Motors. Everyone who reserved a Traveler or Terra, like I reserved a Traveler SUV (full EV, not the Harvester range extender), is craving more information from RJ.
I’m a Tesla guy ! AND I love Rivian and have pre ordered the R2. Even as a Tesla investor I want to see Rivian succeed. I believe Elon wants to see Rivian succeed as well. This CEO (RJ) is a genuine nice guy I hope they make it. Out of spec review is making me rethink my pre order - it turns out that mass manufacturing an affordable EV is super hard. Great interview !
@@DarinFrerichs Tesla's gross profit per car since 2012 has been not been well understood, or widely reported, due to the loud drumbeats of doom and gloom based upon the fact that Tesla was not consistently net profitable as a corporation until 2020. People were taking TSLA quarterly losses, and dividing that by the numbers of cars they made, and claiming they were manufacturing cars at a loss. But that was not true, they were making positive margins in manufacturing while losses were driven by things like corporate overhead, R&D, the cost of building out service and delivery locations, building and maintaining a world-class Supercharger Network, expanding production facilities, and generally growing the business. However, in direct contrast to RIVN manufacturing, each additional car made was a net benefit to Tesla's financial position (because each car made showed a gross profit). But make no mistake, Rivian has never been even close to showing a gross profit per car, let alone a corporate net profit (regardless of irresponsible comments by RJ guiding towards a gross automotive profit in Q4 2024). And that was never going to happen, (even if Rivian had ordered the correct number of parts). I don't have anything against you Darin, but it is plainly obvious you have zero real understanding when you think the economics of Tesla's early production of the Model S mirrors that of the R1T and R1S (which both have strongly negative gross margins). Tesla was selling their Model S at a positive gross margin long before they turned a corporate net profit. Because Elon knows there is no point in manufacturing and selling at a gross loss, that just crushes the case for the business if you can't even make each additional car for what you can sell it for.
@@DarinFrerichs Tesla had a gross profit on Model S production, right from very early on. Same with the Model X that followed it. Rivian has never made a gross profit on any car they have manufactured. Big difference between the two companies. I'm thinking you don't know how to read the quarterly financial statements from both companies early manufacturing periods. It's a night/day difference.
I have a 23 Ford Mach-e GT and a 22 Harley-Davidson LiveWire One. Like other folks in the US market an early adopter. The first thing that came clear to me was, software and over the air updates are what makes or breaks the user's experience. VW group historically has made quality and premium automobiles for decades, but stumbled when launching their EV's with uncompetitive software. "It's the software stupid." Thank you for sharing. Yes we bought a Ford, but Rivian stock is in our portfolio.
good questions, but too much interrupting and inserting your opinions. You have a great podcast voice, but the cutting in and trying to finish your guest's answers was not great imo. looking forward to your future interviews. subbed.
Thanks for watching and subscribing :) So, I hate interrupting. I do it when I must to keep the conversation dynamic. I've tried jumping in less and jumping in more. The audience leaves if it goes too much either way.
We seriously considered a plug-in hybrid three years ago. We ended up with a fully electric vehicle. So glad we did. EVs work better for the vast majority of use cases.
Really great interview format. Great questions. The hybrid question is interesting - hybrids seem to be the default answer that people funnel to when they don't truly understand the reality and the actual data. It's sort of a convenient answer when you don't want to research the facts and think about the long term. Ultimately these consumers just need to be provided with compelling affordable EVs so that they choose them regardless.
I think plug-in hybrids are a fantastic stop gap that are showing up about a decade late. We still have probably another decade or more where they make sense in certain use cases, such as someone who tows a camper far away from highway corridors, or people who have a moderate commute, but take relatively frequent road trips in large vehicles or while towing. "Small" personal vehicles are basically fully ready to be all EV for basically everyone's use cases. Costs just need to keep coming down.
49:00 Plug-in hybrids represent the worst of both worlds, however, they do lower emissions. If you want a PHEV, get one that uses the gas engine as a generator to power the large battery when needed. For example, the non-existant Dodge RAM Rev. These PHEVs with gas generators have fewer ICE parts. Or just keep your old ICE car as a back-up to your EV. That's what I did. I call that a hybrid lifestyle.
Thanks RJ and Rivian is going to be just fine. It’s great to hear his perspective and one of the very few people that actually have his head screwed together 😂
Let's see, when a company's *top* competitor has its CEO in a position of influence in the incoming administration, you're suggesting not to ask about it? I want people who come to my channel to get good information about where the world is heading. I suppose you're not interested.
@ ok now that you mentioned that what about GM CEO 🤔🤔🤔? Remember when sleepy Joe claimed that GM led the EV revolution or when Tesla was not invited to a White House EV event attended by executives from Ford, GM and Stallantis. The reality is that there’s always being influential car manufacturer CEOs but none of them have been public about their goals. And also in my opinion you’re mixing your hate for Trump with what Elon is saying that needs to fixed within the federal government. I like your channel when is technical and not political.
@@Alex.kantrowitzI’m glad that you talked about a CEO being in a position of influence. What about GM’s CEO? What about when Biden claimed that GM was a leader in the EV revolution? Or when the White House hosted an EV event where the big three were invited but excluded Tesla? A lot of car manufacturers CEOs influence the government but they are public about it. In my opinion it seems that you don’t like that Elon is pointing out the problems with the federal government and that he wants to fix them. I really like your channel when is technical and not political.
While the final question to RJ was important, I'd love to hear his take on the gas-generator range extended EVs. Scout reservists self reported a whopping 83% for the ICE extending range combo vs the full EV. Same dead end technology or a bit more feasible due to simplicity with no driveline connections?
I personally think it is a niche market long term, but I think the concept of it is broadly appealing to most people right now given the somewhat limited range of EVs combined with the infrastructure struggles we've been having. In 3-5 years we'll have twice as many charging options that are hopefully more reliable and the concern about EV range / charging will be behind us for most use cases. That said, I'm one of the 83% because I regularly tow with my Rivian and not only is charging much slower than getting gas, it's also similarly to more expensive.
I have an R2 reservation and I also put down a Scout Traveler reservation but went with full the EV. I think the extender is a bit of a crutch for those not ready to go EV yet. Anything with combustion is going to require more maintenance and it just won't give you the full EV experience. The Scout battery will only be about 150 miles then you'll rely on the generator to give you the rest. We don't know yet the generator will keep up while continuously driving or if you'll need to stop and let the generator charge the battery. I get it may be useful in a transition period for some coming to EV but I'd rather see better, faster charging batteries instead.
At the begining - Alex odesnt seem convince or respect the ways of questions and answers from RJ. But at the mid through end - i see Alex seem quite happy have conversation with RJ with all these topics.
Surprised there was no discussion around Rivian supporting V2G/V2H solutions to help with "The Grid's Risky Future." Ford and GM are already offering EVs with V2G/V2H solutions. Lucid, Kia, Hyundai have all made statements that their new EVs will have this feature. What is Rivian planning? Many in the electric utility industry feel EVs will end up supporting the grid.
I wish they were building the R3 next. I think they could achieve good profit by providing the lower cost option first. While the average vehicle purchase is $45k, the numbers also show people can't afford them and repo lots are overflowing. Now that Elon has said a sub $30k car is stupid, definitely an opening for Rivian to consider.
@ahavrilla9577 my bet is the R3 would turn a profit. Assuming it is at a lower price point, it should appeal to a larger portion of the population. I'm thinking about getting it as a college graduation gift for my daughter. There are more situations like that because of the lower price point.
kudos on a very honest conversation both in questions and answers given. getting to scale is the biggest challenge. who said "protypes are easy, volume production is insanely hard." now do it profitably is near impossible
Look, it's a balance. You want to give people time to speak (and I do) but I am working on behalf of listeners here who will not stick around if it's not a dynamic conversation (trust me, I've seen the analytics). I hate interrupting, but sometimes I must.
we own a Zeekr X , a Subcompact size sim to BMW X5 , so far I like it , mostly charge at house, would have loved a Rivian but Thailand , not yet , but a 38,000 usd cost very affordable, now Pickup Truck not yet here . Cost to run .03 cents a mile , converted , we do have Ongrid solar which helps about 25 %. Now Fast and holds the Lane and Lane changes with Turn indicator , down side not a lot of service, it does have geely - Volvo dealer and service. Batteries , next year Solid State
Persons who should hear this are legacy auto. I have a PHEV and while I agree with RJ, it should be the minimum for all new cars, it’s totally possible and the fuel burn for travel without compromise is significantly lower. These legacy auto will automatically migrate to full EV to reduce costs and compete, hopefully they notice the trend. Big question, why not use now retiring VW plants around the world, why not use VW plants to retiring to assemble. Expand the relationship to ensure both Rivian and VW survive while you can.
I like it when RJ politically correct said Trump/Musk is good for EV and the host said yes looks that way because Tesla stock is up 40% while Rivian is flat.
If Musk has a brain, he should tell Trump competition is China, not Rivian ansd tell him to leave incentives alone. If he is a self serving jerk, he will tell him its ok to take away incentives....
Stop wasting money on ads. Everyone shopping for an ev truck is highly educated and already knows you make a great vehicle. Advertising is an unnecessary expense that could be used to reach profitability.
if don't bet against Elon was a person 😂😂😂 this guy is smart enough to swallow his ego and accept the reality of his position in connection with the achievements of Elon musk and Tesla, truth is most douchebags think coming out with a Tesla killer is the only way to gain respect but this guy understands that Tesla through Elon musk has created a gigantic wave on which all manufacturers can ride for free without any uncalled for adversity. I also appreciate the hard questions that will ask the directly without holding back as well as the responses which were given without taking any of the questions is a personal attack which shows great maturity or rather let's say wisdom on the part of the interviewee.
The identity of a Tesla owner? I'm a Tesla owner but I don't use the car or truck I drive to determine my identity. A vehicle is just a tool, not a political or identity statement. When I want to know who someone is, the last thing I would look at is what kind of vehicle they drive. Oh, and nobody cares about the political beliefs of the CEO of the brand of car they drive either. I mean, almost half the country is left, a little more than half is right, CEO's can be either left or right, it's a personal choice, and your right as an American to choose which candidate you support. People making a big deal about Elon's political preferences have absolutely lost their minds. They can't stand it when someone doesn't vote the same way they do. These people are the problem, not the solution.
First, brands and personal identity are regularly tied. Look at things like Patagonia or LL Bean, Subaru, Monster Energy, Black Rifle coffee, Trader Joes, Starbucks, etc. And "nobody cares about the political identity....", tell that to the "go woke go broke" crowd that's constantly "boycotting" brands like Budweiser. Most people don't know the CEO of their favorite companies, let alone their political affiliations. Elon has actively tied himself to both Trump and Tesla, so it's no surprise that there are people actively avoiding OR SEEKING Tesla because of that.
@@GregMcNamer That makes no sense. Elon sides with the majority, so that should increase his sales, not decrease. Elon was a solid democrat until they moved so far left people started abandoning the party in droves. Elon has always been a centrist; it's the party that has become extreme. It's time to rebuild this country to respect the constitution it's based on. We need to bring back high paying manufacturing and engineering jobs and that's exactly what Elon is focused like a laser on.
@ZipZoomZip leaving it ambiguous means you don't alienate half the country. Being vocal on either side means you're going to rub half of the country the wrong way.
Elon has always been an extreme capitalist. He may have voted Democrat in the past, but he's never really behaved like one other than being vaguely environmental. He's always been anti-union, & anti-regulation. Both parties have become more extreme in the "MAGA era", especially when it comes to language and social policies.
@@ZipZoomZipI have 2 Teslas and will never spend another dime supporting Elon despite enjoying the vehicles. When the CEO ties himself to a politics the way Elon did then, in this polarizing environment that republicans have created, yea I’m going to identify the product with the politics. That was Elon’s choice and it certainly has affected their sales.
No self-driving, no Rivian. Why would anyone would buy a Rivian. Hatred for Elon? Spite to waste your money on a truck that costs more and can't drive itself. Now that is hate.
Maybe people are supporting a company whose CEO is actually involved in the company. Elon has moved on to "bigger & better" things. Wonder how long it will take the BOD to realize this? Maybe you don't realize Tesla has been around many years more than Rivian. They're well on their way! I have stock in both companies and drive a Tesla so I wish them both well.
Well, for one, Tesla doesn't have an off-road capable SUV. Nor a spacious three row SUV. Also, for most people, FSD is somewhere between a fun party trick, and something they will never use because they don't trust it.
Tesla’s Self driving software has a long way to go. I have to disengage several times on my daily commute, it changes lanes too frequently and at inappropriate times, and makes poor lane selection in traffic. I have 2 Teslas and would never pay for that crap.
good difficult questions asked but wtf, this guy interrupts RJ waaay to much -- clearly trying to keep the interview on pace but clearly doesn't do this for a living. RJ is great but this guy Alex is clearly not technical or experienced.
Your stated preference is you want less interrupting, but your revealed preference is that if I allow some of these answers to go on you will stop watching. Maybe not you specifically, but I've seen the analytics. I'm doing what the audience wants. That's why these type of comments annoy me the most. You are not only wrong and misinformed, you feel so confident in your wrongness that you attempt to insult and degrade. In the end, you've demonstrated your foolishness to everyone on this page.
RJ: stop all the bs, get the FSD software from Tesla, or go home. I hate driving my R1S now a day b/c of the rudimentary self drive function it has, quit the bs and join the wave. Tesla has it, just use it.
Scaringe correct, plug-in hybrids are trash. so hard to work on, so many parts. ask jeep owners how their hybrid experience is going. my experience was with a prius and it was awful. the worst of both worlds
Very interesting conversation but as a potential EV buy, I’m very skeptical buying from a manufacturer with unstable financial standing. Rivian has a lot of potential in the technology world, but don’t you think it would be better if the company merges with another big manufacturer?
I plan to replace a 20+ year old farm truck (40-acre orchard) with a Rivian. Since I will be doing truck things & not an oversized commuter car, self-driving is very low on the list of needs.
Spite yourself and waste your money on a RIvian. Oh and by the way, invest all your money in Rivian because of you hate. I hope this helps you not waste your money. If not I hope someday you live a happy, healthy life without hate.
Catch the full episode, and others like it, on Big Technology Podcast. Subscribe here:
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I am rooting for Rivian and RJ mostly because he is one of the few adults in the room in these times we live in.
A cheaper self-driving truck or a RIvian. Rivian will die if Tesla does not license self-driving to Rivian. RIP RIvian.
An adult that burns through all of that cash and has yet to ramp production of the current line up to any meaningful volume? That is your version. You are doing him a disservice.
Preach it! Forbes claimed in a recent article rivian has incinerated over $19,000,000,000+ since 2019. For just over 110,000 vehicles made. Vs tesla in a much less friendly ev space. With much less in the way of a supply chain?
Raised about $20,000,000,000 has no debt and over $30,000,000,000 in the bank!
And rivian in total is over 24-26billion raised depending on whose numbers one can trust. I'd bet with the vag cash it's now over 30billion and rj when Trump takes over.
Lowering the interest rates.
Will go right to the markets and raise another 3-5billion. He's also the one who claimed in late 2023 it would take 10-15billion to build out the GA plant!
@@nguyep4Sorry, which car company did you successfully start? Guessing you have zero idea what it takes to do that. Rivian has a 50/50 chance. Regardless, he presents as a calm collected person who seems to have humanity’s and the earth’s best interest in mind.
@@roveriia6334Rivian’s ethos is all about living in adventure. There is nothing adventurous about being in a self driving vehicle. While FSD is the future and will have high adoption rates, it’s not the market that Rivian is after. FSD’s success does not spell Rivian’s doom. There’s a place for both to exist and it’s not one or the other that everyone makes it seem to be.
RJ is such a good guy from everything I’ve seen. I love the vehicles and wish nothing but the best.
Alex knocks it out of the park...again! Awesome podcast with RJ Scaringe. Unlike so many auto execs, RJ doesn't shy away from Alex's questions and gives honest, straightforward answers. I really hope Rivian succeeds in the long term.
Just because R.J. doesn't shy away from the questions asked does not mean Rivian will survive. Those are disparate issues. The hard facts are that Rivian cars are priced so high they don't qualify for the full tax credit for electric vehicles; consequently, their loss in market share has been huge. And that was all before Elon helped Trump get re-elected. "First Buddy" Elon is now dictating U.S. government policy on electric vehicles, and that's bad news for all Tesla competitors.
Great conversation. Rivian has great products and an exciting product pipeline. I sincerely hope they can survive for the long run. We’re rooting for you RJ!!
RJ is a good guy. Who makes awesome machines.
He is really nice he takes a $32,000 loss on every car he sells. It is basically a charity he is running! VW just gave them 2$B so the charity run a bit longer again.
@@Utokoyou do get this is how every car maker starts if not almost every business at first in the red ?? It takes money to make money over time. Cars are especially harder.
A cheaper self-driving truck or a RIvian. Rivian will die if Tesla does not license self-driving to Rivian. RIP RIvian.
@@DarinFrerichs It is 15 years. $17B burned since they are public is unheard off because everyone else would be bankrupt already.
At some point you need to show you can do it.
The cars are really good but at 100K it looks a bit different.
They need to cut nearly 50% of cost in production, material cost are already low.
They don't get the other 3$ B from VW without positive gross margin.
I guess at least they don't need to compete with the chinese too with the tariffs.
@Utoko as I assume you don't understood Finance, I'd have asked you listen to the interview again, but since you apparently already listened to it, I would refrain from saying you are dump
This was a fantastic interview! I’m a huge fan of RJ and Rivian and have an R2 reserved since he introduced last March. The one thing I was hoping to hear during the VW conversation was a mention of Scout Motors. Everyone who reserved a Traveler or Terra, like I reserved a Traveler SUV (full EV, not the Harvester range extender), is craving more information from RJ.
I’m a Tesla guy ! AND I love Rivian and have pre ordered the R2. Even as a Tesla investor I want to see Rivian succeed. I believe Elon wants to see Rivian succeed as well. This CEO (RJ) is a genuine nice guy I hope they make it. Out of spec review is making me rethink my pre order - it turns out that mass manufacturing an affordable EV is super hard. Great interview !
Thanks Alex, amazing dialogue as usual ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Let's go Rivian!! Thanks for what you do R.J.S.
RJ has the greatest Superman costume, and the best automotive CEO out there.
Do you define "best" auto CEO as the one who manages to lose the most money per vehicle sold? How's that work?
@@ZipZoomZip to say that, you have no clue on what Tesla was losing per car when they started.
@@DarinFrerichs Tesla's gross profit per car since 2012 has been not been well understood, or widely reported, due to the loud drumbeats of doom and gloom based upon the fact that Tesla was not consistently net profitable as a corporation until 2020. People were taking TSLA quarterly losses, and dividing that by the numbers of cars they made, and claiming they were manufacturing cars at a loss. But that was not true, they were making positive margins in manufacturing while losses were driven by things like corporate overhead, R&D, the cost of building out service and delivery locations, building and maintaining a world-class Supercharger Network, expanding production facilities, and generally growing the business. However, in direct contrast to RIVN manufacturing, each additional car made was a net benefit to Tesla's financial position (because each car made showed a gross profit).
But make no mistake, Rivian has never been even close to showing a gross profit per car, let alone a corporate net profit (regardless of irresponsible comments by RJ guiding towards a gross automotive profit in Q4 2024). And that was never going to happen, (even if Rivian had ordered the correct number of parts). I don't have anything against you Darin, but it is plainly obvious you have zero real understanding when you think the economics of Tesla's early production of the Model S mirrors that of the R1T and R1S (which both have strongly negative gross margins). Tesla was selling their Model S at a positive gross margin long before they turned a corporate net profit. Because Elon knows there is no point in manufacturing and selling at a gross loss, that just crushes the case for the business if you can't even make each additional car for what you can sell it for.
@@DarinFrerichs Tesla had a gross profit on Model S production, right from very early on. Same with the Model X that followed it. Rivian has never made a gross profit on any car they have manufactured. Big difference between the two companies. I'm thinking you don't know how to read the quarterly financial statements from both companies early manufacturing periods. It's a night/day difference.
Don't bother attempting to reason with the rj nuthuggers. They are mostly teslaq nuts and severe tds&mds suffering simps!
Only a couple minutes in but I know it will be another good interview. Thanks for bringing us the conversations that matter.
Thank you so much! Really enjoyed this one with RJ!
Tesla is #1 but Rivian & RJ are great too
Good luck to them & Lucid too
Nobody else has a chance
RJ is great. Gotta love that guy.
Rivian will do more to save VW than the other way around. I was hoping RJ was gonna team up with Apple. Great interview!
I have a 23 Ford Mach-e GT and a 22 Harley-Davidson LiveWire One. Like other folks in the US market an early adopter. The first thing that came clear to me was, software and over the air updates are what makes or breaks the user's experience. VW group historically has made quality and premium automobiles for decades, but stumbled when launching their EV's with uncompetitive software. "It's the software stupid." Thank you for sharing. Yes we bought a Ford, but Rivian stock is in our portfolio.
My neighbor LOVES his R1S and has had no problems or complaints. Saving my money for one. Cheers. :)
RJ is such a great common sense foil to Elons “out there” character. Go RJ and Go Rivian! (and go Tesla for that matter)
A cheaper self-driving truck or a RIvian. Rivian will die if Tesla does not license self-driving to Rivian. RIP RIvian.
@ do you think your comment is so important that you need to post it multiple times? Especially since you’re wrong.
Always great to hear from RJ. Peter from Lucid should take some notes here
good questions, but too much interrupting and inserting your opinions. You have a great podcast voice, but the cutting in and trying to finish your guest's answers was not great imo. looking forward to your future interviews. subbed.
Thanks for watching and subscribing :) So, I hate interrupting. I do it when I must to keep the conversation dynamic. I've tried jumping in less and jumping in more. The audience leaves if it goes too much either way.
I’m super excited about affordable Rivians. Love the style of the R3 but like the functionality of the R2.
We seriously considered a plug-in hybrid three years ago. We ended up with a fully electric vehicle. So glad we did. EVs work better for the vast majority of use cases.
Really great interview format. Great questions. The hybrid question is interesting - hybrids seem to be the default answer that people funnel to when they don't truly understand the reality and the actual data. It's sort of a convenient answer when you don't want to research the facts and think about the long term. Ultimately these consumers just need to be provided with compelling affordable EVs so that they choose them regardless.
I think plug-in hybrids are a fantastic stop gap that are showing up about a decade late.
We still have probably another decade or more where they make sense in certain use cases, such as someone who tows a camper far away from highway corridors, or people who have a moderate commute, but take relatively frequent road trips in large vehicles or while towing.
"Small" personal vehicles are basically fully ready to be all EV for basically everyone's use cases. Costs just need to keep coming down.
Great questions and interview. Smart without snark.
hope rivian succeeds as a company. they make great, creative, beautiful vehicles. just need price to come down and autopilot to get better
49:00 Plug-in hybrids represent the worst of both worlds, however, they do lower emissions. If you want a PHEV, get one that uses the gas engine as a generator to power the large battery when needed. For example, the non-existant Dodge RAM Rev. These PHEVs with gas generators have fewer ICE parts. Or just keep your old ICE car as a back-up to your EV. That's what I did. I call that a hybrid lifestyle.
An EV makes a better back-up vehicle to another EV because gas cars become unreliable if they just sit around.
Thanks RJ and Rivian is going to be just fine. It’s great to hear his perspective and one of the very few people that actually have his head screwed together 😂
Thanks! Great interview!
Thanks so much!
I'm so in on Rivian Waiting on their SUV
Great conversation!
The fact that the first question was about Elon and Tesla explains everything about Alex. 😂😂😂. Oooooo boy I want to see Elon talking to Alex.
Let's see, when a company's *top* competitor has its CEO in a position of influence in the incoming administration, you're suggesting not to ask about it? I want people who come to my channel to get good information about where the world is heading. I suppose you're not interested.
@ ok now that you mentioned that what about GM CEO 🤔🤔🤔? Remember when sleepy Joe claimed that GM led the EV revolution or when Tesla was not invited to a White House EV event attended by executives from Ford, GM and Stallantis. The reality is that there’s always being influential car manufacturer CEOs but none of them have been public about their goals. And also in my opinion you’re mixing your hate for Trump with what Elon is saying that needs to fixed within the federal government. I like your channel when is technical and not political.
@@Alex.kantrowitzI’m glad that you talked about a CEO being in a position of influence. What about GM’s CEO? What about when Biden claimed that GM was a leader in the EV revolution? Or when the White House hosted an EV event where the big three were invited but excluded Tesla? A lot of car manufacturers CEOs influence the government but they are public about it. In my opinion it seems that you don’t like that Elon is pointing out the problems with the federal government and that he wants to fix them. I really like your channel when is technical and not political.
While the final question to RJ was important, I'd love to hear his take on the gas-generator range extended EVs. Scout reservists self reported a whopping 83% for the ICE extending range combo vs the full EV. Same dead end technology or a bit more feasible due to simplicity with no driveline connections?
I personally think it is a niche market long term, but I think the concept of it is broadly appealing to most people right now given the somewhat limited range of EVs combined with the infrastructure struggles we've been having.
In 3-5 years we'll have twice as many charging options that are hopefully more reliable and the concern about EV range / charging will be behind us for most use cases.
That said, I'm one of the 83% because I regularly tow with my Rivian and not only is charging much slower than getting gas, it's also similarly to more expensive.
I have an R2 reservation and I also put down a Scout Traveler reservation but went with full the EV. I think the extender is a bit of a crutch for those not ready to go EV yet. Anything with combustion is going to require more maintenance and it just won't give you the full EV experience. The Scout battery will only be about 150 miles then you'll rely on the generator to give you the rest. We don't know yet the generator will keep up while continuously driving or if you'll need to stop and let the generator charge the battery. I get it may be useful in a transition period for some coming to EV but I'd rather see better, faster charging batteries instead.
At the begining - Alex odesnt seem convince or respect the ways of questions and answers from RJ.
But at the mid through end - i see Alex seem quite happy have conversation with RJ with all these topics.
Great Conversation. Rivian will be very big EV compnay by 2030
I LOVE my 2023 Quad motor canyon red R1T. I live in North Carolina. I also own a 100% electric Hyundai Ioniq6 and ICE Chevy Impala.
Surprised there was no discussion around Rivian supporting V2G/V2H solutions to help with "The Grid's Risky Future." Ford and GM are already offering EVs with V2G/V2H solutions. Lucid, Kia, Hyundai have all made statements that their new EVs will have this feature. What is Rivian planning? Many in the electric utility industry feel EVs will end up supporting the grid.
I wish they were building the R3 next. I think they could achieve good profit by providing the lower cost option first. While the average vehicle purchase is $45k, the numbers also show people can't afford them and repo lots are overflowing. Now that Elon has said a sub $30k car is stupid, definitely an opening for Rivian to consider.
They are trying to become profitable first.
@ahavrilla9577 my bet is the R3 would turn a profit. Assuming it is at a lower price point, it should appeal to a larger portion of the population. I'm thinking about getting it as a college graduation gift for my daughter. There are more situations like that because of the lower price point.
kudos on a very honest conversation both in questions and answers given. getting to scale is the biggest challenge. who said "protypes are easy, volume production is insanely hard." now do it profitably is near impossible
Hey RJ! Rivian needs to stop building chargers and focus those resources into building more service centers and sales rooms.
Rivian and Lucid are the future!
Alex sure likes to interrupt RJ.
Look, it's a balance. You want to give people time to speak (and I do) but I am working on behalf of listeners here who will not stick around if it's not a dynamic conversation (trust me, I've seen the analytics). I hate interrupting, but sometimes I must.
@@Alex.kantrowitz The exchanges improved as the interview went on. Overall, quality interview, thanks.
No one points out that it takes around 8 kW of hour to produce and deliver a gallon of gasoline. Will go 25 to 30 miles on that much electricity.
we own a Zeekr X , a Subcompact size sim to BMW X5 , so far I like it , mostly charge at house, would have loved a Rivian but Thailand , not yet , but a 38,000 usd cost very affordable, now Pickup Truck not yet here . Cost to run .03 cents a mile , converted , we do have Ongrid solar which helps about 25 %. Now Fast and holds the Lane and Lane changes with Turn indicator , down side not a lot of service, it does have geely - Volvo dealer and service. Batteries , next year Solid State
Solar, wind, batteries (and demand response) can be added to the grid faster than EV's can be built. China has shown us how this is done in 2023.
Persons who should hear this are legacy auto. I have a PHEV and while I agree with RJ, it should be the minimum for all new cars, it’s totally possible and the fuel burn for travel without compromise is significantly lower. These legacy auto will automatically migrate to full EV to reduce costs and compete, hopefully they notice the trend.
Big question, why not use now retiring VW plants around the world, why not use VW plants to retiring to assemble. Expand the relationship to ensure both Rivian and VW survive while you can.
Thanks!
Thank you!!
I like it when RJ politically correct said Trump/Musk is good for EV and the host said yes looks that way because Tesla stock is up 40% while Rivian is flat.
You should have more views than my channel. Great guest and questions!
If you believe in PHEV, you probably also believe in fracking and CCS. And yes, you may also have had a MiniDisc. Be careful what bridges you go for.
If Musk has a brain, he should tell Trump competition is China, not Rivian ansd tell him to leave incentives alone. If he is a self serving jerk, he will tell him its ok to take away incentives....
Stop wasting money on ads. Everyone shopping for an ev truck is highly educated and already knows you make a great vehicle. Advertising is an unnecessary expense that could be used to reach profitability.
Sounds like you have been listening to Elon I getting costs down hope you make it
It looks like R.J. is wearing two watches, one on each wrist.
Australia when?
Hi Alex, I wonder if I’ve worked with your mother. Is she Nikki, a Cardiologist in NY?
if don't bet against Elon was a person 😂😂😂 this guy is smart enough to swallow his ego and accept the reality of his position in connection with the achievements of Elon musk and Tesla, truth is most douchebags think coming out with a Tesla killer is the only way to gain respect but this guy understands that Tesla through Elon musk has created a gigantic wave on which all manufacturers can ride for free without any uncalled for adversity. I also appreciate the hard questions that will ask the directly without holding back as well as the responses which were given without taking any of the questions is a personal attack which shows great maturity or rather let's say wisdom on the part of the interviewee.
What a breath of fresh air compared to Elon.
I love what Rivian has done and is doing.
I like this guy ! I’m kind of done with investing in geniuses !
The identity of a Tesla owner? I'm a Tesla owner but I don't use the car or truck I drive to determine my identity. A vehicle is just a tool, not a political or identity statement. When I want to know who someone is, the last thing I would look at is what kind of vehicle they drive.
Oh, and nobody cares about the political beliefs of the CEO of the brand of car they drive either. I mean, almost half the country is left, a little more than half is right, CEO's can be either left or right, it's a personal choice, and your right as an American to choose which candidate you support. People making a big deal about Elon's political preferences have absolutely lost their minds. They can't stand it when someone doesn't vote the same way they do. These people are the problem, not the solution.
First, brands and personal identity are regularly tied. Look at things like Patagonia or LL Bean, Subaru, Monster Energy, Black Rifle coffee, Trader Joes, Starbucks, etc.
And "nobody cares about the political identity....", tell that to the "go woke go broke" crowd that's constantly "boycotting" brands like Budweiser.
Most people don't know the CEO of their favorite companies, let alone their political affiliations. Elon has actively tied himself to both Trump and Tesla, so it's no surprise that there are people actively avoiding OR SEEKING Tesla because of that.
@@GregMcNamer That makes no sense. Elon sides with the majority, so that should increase his sales, not decrease. Elon was a solid democrat until they moved so far left people started abandoning the party in droves. Elon has always been a centrist; it's the party that has become extreme. It's time to rebuild this country to respect the constitution it's based on. We need to bring back high paying manufacturing and engineering jobs and that's exactly what Elon is focused like a laser on.
@ZipZoomZip leaving it ambiguous means you don't alienate half the country. Being vocal on either side means you're going to rub half of the country the wrong way.
Elon has always been an extreme capitalist. He may have voted Democrat in the past, but he's never really behaved like one other than being vaguely environmental. He's always been anti-union, & anti-regulation.
Both parties have become more extreme in the "MAGA era", especially when it comes to language and social policies.
@@ZipZoomZipI have 2 Teslas and will never spend another dime supporting Elon despite enjoying the vehicles. When the CEO ties himself to a politics the way Elon did then, in this polarizing environment that republicans have created, yea I’m going to identify the product with the politics. That was Elon’s choice and it certainly has affected their sales.
No self-driving, no Rivian. Why would anyone would buy a Rivian. Hatred for Elon? Spite to waste your money on a truck that costs more and can't drive itself. Now that is hate.
Maybe people are supporting a company whose CEO is actually involved in the company. Elon has moved on to "bigger & better" things. Wonder how long it will take the BOD to realize this? Maybe you don't realize Tesla has been around many years more than Rivian. They're well on their way! I have stock in both companies and drive a Tesla so I wish them both well.
Well, for one, Tesla doesn't have an off-road capable SUV.
Nor a spacious three row SUV.
Also, for most people, FSD is somewhere between a fun party trick, and something they will never use because they don't trust it.
Tesla’s Self driving software has a long way to go. I have to disengage several times on my daily commute, it changes lanes too frequently and at inappropriate times, and makes poor lane selection in traffic. I have 2 Teslas and would never pay for that crap.
good difficult questions asked but wtf, this guy interrupts RJ waaay to much -- clearly trying to keep the interview on pace but clearly doesn't do this for a living. RJ is great but this guy Alex is clearly not technical or experienced.
Your stated preference is you want less interrupting, but your revealed preference is that if I allow some of these answers to go on you will stop watching. Maybe not you specifically, but I've seen the analytics. I'm doing what the audience wants. That's why these type of comments annoy me the most. You are not only wrong and misinformed, you feel so confident in your wrongness that you attempt to insult and degrade. In the end, you've demonstrated your foolishness to everyone on this page.
No self-driving No Rivian.
RJ: stop all the bs, get the FSD software from Tesla, or go home. I hate driving my R1S now a day b/c of the rudimentary self drive function it has, quit the bs and join the wave. Tesla has it, just use it.
Scaringe correct, plug-in hybrids are trash. so hard to work on, so many parts. ask jeep owners how their hybrid experience is going. my experience was with a prius and it was awful. the worst of both worlds
Master dancer. Noice cars tho
If you remove the carbon credits how much money are you loosing per vehicle?
Why don’t you do some math?
You can look it up if you really care.
Very interesting conversation but as a potential EV buy, I’m very skeptical buying from a manufacturer with unstable financial standing.
Rivian has a lot of potential in the technology world, but don’t you think it would be better if the company merges with another big manufacturer?
Tesla was in the same boat not that long ago. It takes time.
A cheaper self-driving truck or a RIvian. Rivian will die if Tesla does not license self-driving to Rivian. RIP RIvian.
I plan to replace a 20+ year old farm truck (40-acre orchard) with a Rivian. Since I will be doing truck things & not an oversized commuter car, self-driving is very low on the list of needs.
RJ sounds shook. I hope I’m wrong, but I suspect there’s some pretty ugly writing on the wall for EV manufacturing in the US.
RJ is a good sales man and his words have magnetic effect
However the stock price and backlog demand yet to reflect this great Rivian products
A cheaper self-driving truck or a RIvian. Rivian will die if Tesla does not license self-driving to Rivian. RIP RIvian.
@ every Tesla fans say this
Let’s see and time will go
Certain no one can beat Tesla and Elon. It’s impossible job and it can’t be done
Reserved my Rivian R2. Can’t wait.
A cheaper self-driving truck or a RIvian. Rivian will die if Tesla does not license self-driving to Rivian. RIP RIvian.
@ no. FSD isn’t as popular or as good as you may think. I have it and I don’t like it. Rivian is a better choice than Tesla.
Boycott Elon Musk
Not Tesla !
A cheaper self-driving truck or a RIvian. Rivian will die if Tesla does not license self-driving to Rivian. RIP RIvian.
Spite yourself and waste your money on a RIvian. Oh and by the way, invest all your money in Rivian because of you hate. I hope this helps you not waste your money. If not I hope someday you live a happy, healthy life without hate.
Thank God for Elon!
Also, go Rivian!! I love my R1T. Best vehicle I’ve ever owned. Rivian will be around for many decades to come.