Rivian surprise announces the R3 hatchback

https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/07/rivian-r3-hatchback-ev-specs-preorder-info/

by jakelazaroff • 2 years ago

49 29 2 years ago

NewJazz• 2 years ago

Soooo... Maybe something down the line? At some price point. Kthx. Lots of useful information there.

nkotov• 2 years ago

I'm on my fifth Tesla now and by far the Model 3 Performance was my favorite to drive around even though Model S Plaid is a lot faster. If this handles anything like that, it's an instant buy from me.

ein0p• 2 years ago

“Instant” may be an issue - none of the cars shown will ship for another couple of years.

milchek• 2 years ago

Was it really that pronounced? On paper it’s 3.3s vs 2secs 0-100 right?

thejazzman• 2 years ago

3.3 to 2 is DRAMATIC -- the real trick is they once you're moving so fast, the experience becomes so brief, that the thrill becomes less substantial

Like if Disney world rides ran faster / shorter. They're already really short.

marssaxman2• 2 years ago

It sure felt that pronounced the first time I tried to follow a Tesla up a freeway onramp while riding my motorcycle and it just ghosted me. I had never seen a four-wheeled vehicle move like that before.

owenwil• 2 years ago

I’m only on my first Model Y, and it’s a great car albeit a bit cramped with a kid and a dog, and some pretty dumb UX/design choices. Rivian seems to be the only company building thoughtful, well-sized EV SUVs rather than trucks. Definitely going to choose the R2 for our next car; nice to see some competition while Tesla is asleep at the wheel with the cybertruck.

pfannkuchen2• 2 years ago

I find Rivian design to look boringly conventional. I’m guessing they use the same body fabrication machines as other auto makers? Vs Tesla who build the machines in house AFAIK. If they didn’t look so much worse I would consider them.

bzzzt• 2 years ago

There are a lot more EV brands with SUV models than Rivian and Tesla:

- Volvo XC40 recharge (now called EX40)

- Kia EV6, EV9 / Hyundai Ioniq 5

- VW ID4 (or Skoda Enyaq if you're in the EU)

- Mercedes EQx / BMW i series / Mini countryman

malshe2• 2 years ago

Good to have more alternatives to Tesla but how strong is Rivian financially? If this hatchback is expected to be on the street only in a couple of years, this might not even materialize.

On a related note, I haven’t seen many Cybertrucks around in TX. Is it selling well on the west coast?

coffeebeqn• 2 years ago

I have not seen one in the Midwest yet. Pickups are very popular here in general

malshe2• 2 years ago

Yeah same here in Texas. I think on my street there are maybe 5-6 sedans and 70-80 trucks

jebarker• 2 years ago

Likewise in Colorado. I see multiple Rivians everytime I leave the house though. I am in the Boulder Bubble though.

mips_r4300i• 2 years ago

There's one Rivian here in F150 land. No charging infra, so owner is brave.

OkayPhysicist• 2 years ago

I see about one Cybertruck every time I leave the house here in the East Bay. Not nearly as ubiquitous as the other Tesla models, but no longer a stop-and-gawk novelty.

reducesuffering• 2 years ago

how strong is Rivian financially?

I'm no expert on balance sheets and income statements, but with 2022 cash ending $11.5 billion and 2023 ending $7.9 billion, and losing 33% car value every time they sell a car (COGS + Depreciation at 133%). Their 2023 Operating Income was losing $5.4 billion, yikes. It doesn't look great.

Fisker also is currently going bankrupt, but I'm sure they were extra poorly run.

next_xibalba• 2 years ago

Even after financing activities they’re negative on statement of cash flows. For the last five quarters. Does not look good.

marssaxman2• 2 years ago

I have yet to see any Cybertrucks here in Seattle, at all. Lots of Rivians, though, and of course plenty of normal Teslas.

chokolad• 2 years ago

I have yet to see any Cybertrucks here in Seattle, at all. Lots of Rivians, though, and of course plenty of normal Teslas.

I have seen one on Eastside last week.

pfannkuchen2• 2 years ago

I saw something awhile ago about Tesla prioritizing orders in a few states that weren’t WA. Not sure if true.

jaredhallen• 2 years ago

I've seen several at a ski resort in CA. One today, in fact.

pie420• 2 years ago

Over/under on what year it will actually ship to customers? If they are targeting late 2026 for the R2,then my most optimistic huess is late 2028 for small volumes of the R3, to ramp up through 2029. Seems almost silly to announce it this early.

My guess is they'll need an additional $4-6 billion to make it to then, even if they aggressivle cut costs and increase margins

Kon-Peki• 2 years ago

The R3 is heavily based on the R2, so that will reduce the cost and time to market somewhat.

They also said that they are pausing their spending on the Georgia factory and will build the R2 in Illinois. I don’t know how much they’ve been spending on the new factory, but that will be some amount of cost savings.

One thing that concerns me is that the R3 is getting a lot more attention than the R2. If all the buyers skip the R2 and wait for the R3, they aren’t likely to survive.

Rivian needs to do some clever marketing around the R2. They briefly showed the R2 with all the seats folded down. Run with that… I have a Subaru Outback that will need to be replaced in the next few years. One of the things that I actually do with it is to fold down the front passenger seat and the passenger side 2nd row seat. And then load it up with 2x6s from Home Depot. Close all the doors, drive away like normal. What other vehicle can do that nowadays? The R2.

cchance2• 2 years ago

Especially considering the R3 is at a minimum 1-2 years out realistically

dkobia• 2 years ago

Sadly the cancellation of the $5B Rivian factory in Georgia today tells you everything you need to know about when we’ll actually see this car.

walthamstow• 2 years ago

Looks like my mum's boxy 1994 Ford Fiesta, and I like it

rigoleto• 2 years ago

Disappointing to see it with tires this big, translating into lower efficiency and less usable interior space

pathartl• 2 years ago

I want to see more electric hatchbacks, but is this really a hatchback?

Rivian surprise announces the R3 hatchback

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