"I loved the idea of going straight from Ford - a legacy automaker deep in the EV transition - to Rivian, arguably the most competitive EV-only car company in the U.S. behind Tesla. If you listened to the Farley episode, this one flows nicely. RJ and I cover a lot of the same challenges: tariffs, China, EV pricing. But Rivian doesn't have the legacy tech and other baggage of a traditional automaker."
"But Rivian doesn't have the legacy tech and other baggage of a traditional automaker. That clean slate makes things like software easier, but it just means the road ahead has another set of bumps. And yes, we talked about how my Ford Mustang Mach-E's lease is up next year - perfect timing, since Rivian's new R2, expected in early 2026, starts at $45,000."
Rivian positions itself as a competitive EV-only automaker in the U.S., with a clearer software path due to the absence of legacy automotive baggage. The company faces industry-wide challenges including tariffs, China market dynamics, and EV pricing pressures. Rivian aims to expand its lineup with the R2, expected in early 2026 with a starting price near $45,000. Software strategy benefits from the EV-only architecture, but operational and market hurdles remain. Comparisons with legacy automakers highlight different transition challenges between established firms and pure EV manufacturers. Feature decisions, such as smartphone integration, remain topics of consideration.
Read at The Verge
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