Rivian Adjusts EV Offerings to Accelerate Deliveries

In a strategic move to expedite production and delivery, Rivian has streamlined options available for its R1T and R1S electric vehicles (EVs). The popular EV maker has made notable changes, a development avidly discussed on platforms like Twitter by accounts such as RivianTrackr.

Among the noticeable changes, Rivian has eliminated “Compass Yellow” – a premium color costing $2,500. In addition, the 20-inch all-terrain Bright wheels and the vegan leather interiors are no longer available. Customers will now receive the wood-lined dashboard as a standard.

While the Red Canyon and Rivian Blue exterior paints remain available, they can no longer be paired with the Forest Edge interior. It’s possible that these specific combinations weren’t in high demand.

Rivian has also presented an intriguing option to certain pre-order holders. RivianTrackr highlights that those opting for the Performance Dual-Motor all-wheel-drive model instead of the quad-motor can expect earlier deliveries.

This Dual-Motor variant, boasting a robust 665 horsepower, can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. In contrast, those awaiting the mightier 835 hp Quad-Motor model will endure a slightly longer wait, though the vehicle boasts a swift 0-60 time of merely three seconds.

One Rivian enthusiast inquired on the company’s Twitter about the pricing when switching to the Performance Dual-Motor model, originally priced around $75,000. Responding to the query, Rivian clarified that with the larger battery pack, “pre-3/1 deposit holders can expect a $500 price reduction compared to [the] Quad-Motor.”

However, this doesn’t quite bridge the $3,000 price differential between the two models. Another customer mentioned a potential 2023 delivery for the Dual-Motor, but chose to wait until 2024 for the Quad-Motor option.

Rivian’s adjustments follow its previous measures to enhance delivery speed in 2023 after missing production targets last year. Earlier in January, Rivian discontinued the beta membership package and phased out certain features. Notably, by April, the automaker began producing its in-house electric motor, Enduro, mirroring Tesla‘s strategy of crafting its motors.

While these changes spell good news for customers less particular about higher-end models, they might pose challenges for those set on specific configurations. The current direction emphasizes Rivian’s commitment to delivering its EVs promptly, though it requires some flexibility from its loyal customer base.