Rivian is a whole other segment. Its more for people who don't really need a truck but like the idea of one. Their SUV is really pretty much way better, as the truck bed is too small.
I think it's actually quite the opposite. If you need a truck for its utility which one makes more sense? The Cybertruck is less expensive, has more range, bigger payload, higher towing capacity, access to the best charging network in the world. Why would you buy a Rivian instead? The only reason I can think of is that it looks more conventional. If you need a truck, you buy the Tesla. If you want a lifestyle truck that looks pretty, you buy the Rivian.
I think the rivian is a better push towards converting people over to electric. I thought I saw it helped some people win an off road race recently and that’s a good way to catch traditional truck owners attention. Plus the slightly modernized but not ugly design language makes the transition more smooth
The Tesla truck will almost certainly beat them to mass market. Look how long it took Tesla to scale up production -- the Model S shipped in 2013. It wasn't until 2018 that Tesla built their 200,000th vehicle. Rivian hasn't yet shipped a single truck to customers; they're in for a long and difficult road ahead building out their production lines.
All that said I do hope Rivian is successful. I would absolutely buy an electric pickup truck.
I really hope Rivian makes it. They seem to have the right idea working from the top of the market down like Tesla. They could probably survive on only high-end low volume sales for quite a while. I hope Tesla gives them time and room to grow before introducing their own truck.
Also - There was a video with Sandy Munro on it and he couldn't talk about Rivian so he's either working with them or someone who wants to invest in them. So it seems like they are getting the right brains working on their problems.
I think the CyberTruck is hideous. Absolutely ugly. However, if I needed a truck I'd pretty heavily consider it. I know what I'm getting with Tesla, where as Rivian? Who knows, they are so new.
And Tesla in general does a very good job with their vehicles.
I am pretty certain to replace my 25 year old Chevy 2500 with an electric truck over the next few years and am not really even considering the Rivian. The small bed is not really appealing at all compared to the F150 and it's not that interesting compared to the Cybertruck.
I'm pretty skeptical that Tesla can pull off the Cybertruck for the prices they initially announced, but if they do, that's going to be a big advantage.
Their SUV does look pretty interesting though. The Model Y is too small for what a lot of families now expect from an SUV and the Model X is very expensive.
Rivian is the much needed kick in the nuts. When it turn out to be a viable truck and not just vaporware with lofty promises, people took note. I am by no means a truck or suv type guy but the idea of full electric one is very intriguing, if only I had the space. I can imagine the allure of great low end torque, improved storage capacity and the fuel savings for the more leisurely drivers, who don't need to tow 10 tons or haul 1-2 tons which is frankly not the case for the vast majority of the people in my experience.
People keep saying lithium batteries loose capacity and stuff but less energy dense chemistries than the one in your mobile phone fare better in an automotive setting.
Big automotive companies had all the time in the world to come up with the tech of the future but they squandered the opportunity. Upstarts seem to be poised to eat their cake.
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